"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Demon/Summon/inner Sakura speech

Demon/Summon thoughts

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of the characters created by Kishimoto, but all OC's are my own creation.

Author's note: Sorry it took so long to update but I didn't want to post this until I finished the next chapter of Konoha's Mistake and now that it's done here's the next chapter. Now that that's out of the way most people that guess were right about who 'Bones' was but nobody guess right on just who 'Spitfire' was, Can't say I blame anybody as the person I selected for that role is not someone you would usually picture for that codename.

Anyway on with the story.

XXXXXXX

Chapter 4: Temptation and Discovery!

The bright lights and flashing signs of the Village of Tanzaku, a place where the lucky can live out their dreams and the unlucky… well they usually ended up in a ditch somewhere, was an amazing sight to see. It was these lights and all the activity of the people going in and out of the shops, and gambling parlors that left Fuu in a state of awe and wonder. This was a new experience for her, having never been in such a bustling village like this before everything was new and exciting for her, and even though she would never admit it a bit terrifying as well.

"And this Tsunade person comes to places like this all the time?" Fuu asked as she stared at a couple as they scrambled to grab their winnings after their slot machine hit the jackpot.

Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at Fuu's awe struck attitude. He still remembered his first time coming here and seeing Fuu act like this brought back fond memories. "Yup, don't know why though. She's got the worst luck I've ever seen, I mean I've never known her to win a single game she's ever played."

"Why play then?"

"Don't know, I think she's addicted to it or something. Not that I'm complaining, it's how I managed to snag this little baby here." Naruto pulled out a small necklace, it was a simple blue jewel but you could tell that it was made with the skill of a master craftsman. "It was the necklace of the Shodai Hokage. Kaa-san told me once that it was worth like three mountains or something."

Fuu's eye bugged out of her head at the mere thought of owning such a peace of history. "A-and they just let you keep it?"

"Yup!" Naruto smiled as he put the necklace back under his shirt. "I won it fair and square after all. Besides the Shodai was one of my hero's growing up from Konoha's golden age… before they became the bastards that they are today."

Noticing the darker tone of his voice and not wanting to have to deal with it she decided to change the subject. "So… where are we going anyway? I mean Kushina-san said she would check the Casinos, and Mei-san's gone along with Zabuza to get a hotel room. So where does that leave us?"

"The hot springs."

"The… hot... springs?" Fuu looked at Naruto like he had just lost his mind, here they are trying to save the life of that Haku guy and he wants to take a bath.

Naruto sensed the uncertainty in her voice and went on to elaborate. "Yes the hot springs. If Tsunade-obachan isn't gambling, or at the hotel we'll find her at the hot springs."

As they continued down the street that lead to the hot springs even with everything that had happened Naruto couldn't contain his excitement over introducing Fuu to the other members of the Marauders that were currently with Tsunade, and he finally burst. "Just wait until you meet the others Fuu-chan, I know you'll just love them."

"Others?"

"Yeah!" Naruto exclaimed as he started to raddle off all those she already knew. "You've already met Kaa-san, me and… Haku-niisan…" His face became crest fallen at the mention of his brother's name but he quickly covered it back up with a smile before he continued. "But there are two more here with Tsunade-obachan that you haven't met yet."

"Really?" Fuu asked as her curiosity was piqued at meeting more of the people she would be working with. "What are they like?"

"Well…" Naruto trailed off not sure if he wanted to spoil the surprise too much. "One of them is real serious all the time, but don't let that fool you he's a really nice guy once you get to know him, he's very loyal too. The other one's a bit more… assertive; she won't hesitate to tell you what she thinks, and heaven help you if you get on her bad side." A shiver ran down Naruto's spine as he remember the last time he'd done that before he mumbled "I still think that she gets that from hanging around Kaa-san so much."

It was at this point that they finally arrived at their destination. The first thing Fuu noticed was that while all the other buildings she'd seen here were exuberant and flashy this place had a down to earth feel to it, and she liked that. However that peaceful feeling that seemed to radiate from the building was soon broken when they both heard a loud shriek quickly followed by a female voice that shouted 'pervert!' Right after that the two of them saw a middle aged man come barreling out of the bath house in what looked like a despite attempt to escape with his life. But before either of them could do anything about it a black haired beauty leapt over the fence of the female side of the hot springs, clothed in only a light purple tube top, dark violet hot pants and a black trench coat with white flames and a red sash on the left arm, she landed on the dirt path pissed beyond all reason, and then charged after the man. Her skill as a shinobi became blatantly obvious when in a single jab to the man's back he crumbled to the ground.

The young teen then grabbed the man by the scruff of his collar. "Did you think you could run away from me when you aren't even a ninja?"

"Please have mercy! I-It was a misunderstanding! I was just walking by when you opened that door!" the poor man pleaded.

"Bullshit!" the dark haired girl shouted as she shook the man several time to vent her frustration. "You can't fool my eyes I know you were peeping on us! I'm going to beat you to a pulp to teach you a lesson!"

"Hina-chan!" Naruto shouted as he got a big grin on his face. "Still teaching perverts their lessons huh?"

"Naruto-kun?" The teen asked as she turned to face the pair. Upon seeing Fuu the now identified Hina's face hardened. "And who is this?"

The grin on Naruto's face got even wider if that was possible as he gestured towards Fuu. "Hina-chan I'd like you to meet Fuu-chan, our newest member. Fuu-chan this is Hinata-chan."

"Oh really?" Hinata said as she looked Fuu up and down as if appraising her, before she released the pervert she was going to pummel a few seconds ago, his head slamming against the concrete. With her former prey forgotten she walked right up to Fuu and whispered into her ear. "Naruto-kun's mine. If you so much as touch him…" Her eyes then pulsed with charka. "I'll fucking kill you!"

"Excuse me!" Fuu shouted as she backed away from Hinata. Now that she was far enough away from this crazy person she got a better look at her and the first thing she noticed is that she had long flowing black hair that went halfway down her back, and an angelic face that anyone would be envious of, upon closer inspection however she noticed what looked like a scar on the right side of her face that was cleverly hidden behind her hair. But the most noticeable feature was her eyes and while their color was the same shade of blue as Naruto's they were lacking a visible lens that most eyes had, and that's when it clicked with her. "A-A Hyuuga? You're a Hyuuga!"

Hinata's eyes narrowed dangerously at the mention of that name, and before Fuu had time to react Hinata moved to strike the surprised girl. "Don't you ever call me by that VILE name!"

However before Hinata's strike could find its target Naruto grabbed her wrist. "Stop it Hinata! She doesn't know!"

The lack of a suffix to her full name snapped Hinata out of her blind rage and the two just stared at each other for several moments before Hinata yanked her wrist free of Naruto's grip. "Well make sure she never does that again then. Because I won't be held responsible for the consequences if she does."

Fuu looked at Naruto then Hinata then back to Naruto, before her frustration go the best of her. "Ok what the hell's going on?"

"Hina-chan's a bit… sensitive about her parentage." Naruto replied and after getting a discreet nod from Hinata he expanded on his explanation. "We've known each other since we were about three years old. You see that's when my mother took her in."

After a simple nod from Fuu to show that she was following so far he continued, "Before that she lived in Konoha and though she doesn't remember that time very well she can't forget the horrible feelings those thoughts produce."

"Ok so she had a rough child hood I get that, but if she was part of that clan…" she trailed off as she looked over at Hinata to see if she was going to attack her again, and when she saw that the dark haired beauty hadn't moved she added, "Then how did she end up here?"

"Because of Kumo."

Fuu snapped her head over to the Hyuuga but when she refused to elaborate any further she turned her attention back towards Naruto with an expected look on her face. "Well?"

Naruto let out a sigh of frustration from this whole affair before he decided to answer Fuu's question. "I don't know the details but Hina-chan here was kidnapped." Fuu's eyes widened in surprise and snuck a look at the girl in question, but before she could say anything Naruto continued his story. "To this day we still don't know how he did it, but he somehow managed to get in and out without being caught by the Hyuuga's all-seeing eyes. He even made it half way to Kumo before he had an unfortunate run in with my Kaa-san, and the rest as they say is history."

"I still remember when the rescue party came for me." Hinata cut in unable to keep her silence any further. "Kushina-neechan kept us hidden and we watched as the rescue party found the body of the man."

"My father…" Hinata spat out. "…just stood there after they found the blood stained blanket I was wrapped in. He didn't show any interest at all that I could be dead. The bastard just walked away without ever saying a word!"

"Hina-chan…" Naruto whispered as he placed his arm around Hinata and gave her a comforting hug, which caused the young Hyuuga to take full advantage of the situation, and with a content smile on her lips she moved in closer before she rested her head on his shoulders. Meanwhile Fuu just stared at the two of them a sense of jealousy rising within her at how close those two seemed to be.

"So how should I address you then?" Fuu said in an attempt to break up the touching little scene before her. When both of them turned to her with a look of curiosity in their eyes she elaborated. "Well if you don't want to be referred to by that clan. Then how do want to be addressed? Do you want your first name used or is there another clan name?"

Hinata got a sly look on her face as she said "Uzumaki, Uzumaki Hinata, at least that's what I want to be called, but since I can't, just call me Hinata." She then let out an exaggerated sigh of depression before she looked up at the sky. "Maybe someday it will come true."

"Um… Hina-chan why don't you just ask Kaa-san? I'm sure she'd love to adopt you into the clan." Naruto said with the most innocent look Fuu had ever seen on his face.

"Not what I meant Naruto-kun." Hinata replied with a stern gaze directed at her blonde haired friend.

"Huh?" Naruto said as he slightly tilted his head to the right in confusion. "What do you mean Hina-chan?"

"Anyway there's just one thing I don't understand." Fuu suddenly blurted out desperate to change the course of this conversation before Hinata had a chance to respond, and while a small part of her was happy that Naruto missed such an obvious hint another part wondered just how he missed it. "Hyuuga's are known for their violet eyes. So why are yours blue?"

"Because she's wearing contacts." A voice said from behind the group. As they all turned they saw a Blonde haired woman that looked to be in her mid-twenties with a jewel in the middle of her forehead. "We specially developed them to help hide the fact that Hinata here was a member of the Hyuuga clan… though as you can see they still need some improvements."

"Tsunade-obachan!" shouted Naruto as he ran over the excitement of finding the person they were looking for clearly evident. "We've been looking everywhere for you!"

Tsunade got a faint smile on her face at the antics of the blonde haired teen. "And just what were you looking for me for?"

"It's Haku-niisan.., he's been hurt."

Naruto didn't get the chance to explain further as Hinata grabbed him by his collar and started to bombard him with questions. "Haku-niisan's hurt?! When? How? What kind of treatment have you given him?"

"Whoa ease up there Hinata. Give Naruto-kun as chance to answer." Tsunade said as Hinata released Naruto a slight ting of pink colored her cheeks.

Taking a minute to compose himself, Naruto let the seriousness of the situation show in his face before he said "Yes Haku-niisan's been hurt. It happened in Wave. And he got hurt because of me…" He then lowered his head so that his hair covered his eyes. "Because I was stupid and because they caught me off guard he got stabbed in the chest. No treatment, Kaa-san and I put a Stasis seal on him."

"A stasis seal? He was hurt that bad?" Tsunade asked her medical mind already going over what possible treatments she could use on a chest trauma patient.

Naruto's voice got even lower and self-loathing as he said "Yeah Kaa-san said that he would have died within minutes if we hadn't put the stasis seal on him."

"Where is he now?"

"Kaa-san has him." Naruto replied without missing a beat. "She sealed him in a scroll for easy transport. She's currently looking for you in the casinos"

"Who's looking for you in the casinos Tsunade-sama?" A dark haired woman asked as she came out of the Hot Springs helping a white haired boy who looked to be in his late teens.

"Shizune. You're taking Kimmimaru back to the hotel." Tsunade barked before she turned towards Naruto. "How much longer will the stasis seal last?"

He stood there for a moment thinking everything over before he responded "It was a rush job so I'd say a couple more hours at most."

"Good that's plenty of time." Tsunde replied before she turned too looked at Hinata. "Hinata help Shizune with Kimmimaru he's still recovering from his treatments and needs as much rest as possible."

"No we're going with you Tsunade-sama. I think I speak for us all when I say we wouldn't feel right sitting in a hotel room while someone we care about is hurt. Besides wouldn't it be easier with my help?" Shizune replied as the others with the exception of Fuu nodded in agreement.

"I agree with Shizune-neechan, Tsunade-sama. It wouldn't feel right to be relaxing in a hotel room while one of my brothers is hurt." replied the white haired young man named Kimmimaru.

"Fine." Tsunade finally said seeing that there was no way she could talk to her apprentice out of this course of action, and truth be told she wouldn't mind the help. "We'll all go to the local hospital. Naruto once we get there flare your charka so Kushina will come running. By the time she gets there I should have everything straightened out and ready to begin working on Haku."

"You got it Obachan!" Naruto replied while giving her a mock salute to show that he understood what to do.

XXXXXXX

A little while later Kushina landed in front of the Hospital that she had sensed her son's charka signature only to see Tsunade waiting for her outside with a gurney ready. Not a word was said between the two as Kushina unsealed Haku and placed him on the gurney before they wheeled him into the ER.

"All right people I want him in operating room 2. He's got severe trauma to the chest that includes a punctured lung, cracked ribs, and internal bleeding. So I want all the necessary supplies their yesterday do I make myself clear?!" Tsunade shouted to the hospital staff after she had finished her diagnostic on him, and it became clear very quickly that she had worked her magic on them as they were clearly terrified to question her orders.

In a matter of moments Tsunade, and Shizune where in the operating room furiously working to save the life of the ice user while the other had the even harder task of waiting to see how it would turn out. As seconds turned to minutes, and minutes started to turn to hours all this sitting around and waiting got to Naruto and he got up and started to pace the room in nervous anticipation.

"Calm down Naruto-kun I know how you feel, but all you're going to do is wear a hole in the floor if you continue pacing like that." Kushina said from her position on the far side of the room.

"I know that!" Naruto snapped as he turned to face his mother who was leaning against the wall right next to the operating room. "But it's hard you know. I just wish there was something I could do to help."

Kushina pushed herself off the wall and walked over to her son and lifted his chin up so that she was looking him in the eyes. "I know you do. But there's nothing any of us can do right now but wait and hope for the best."

When she saw that Naruto was still going to have trouble just waiting around she decided to give him something to keep him occupied. "Hey Naruto-kun why don't you, Hinata, and Fuu head over to the Hotel, and let Mei and Zabuza know about what's going on? Kimmimaru-kun can keep me company until you guys get back."

"You sure?" Naruto asked uncertain it that was such a good idea, he'd hate to leave and something happen to his brother figure.

Kushina put on the best reassuring smile she could before she ruffled his hair. "It'll be awhile before we know anything so you should be back in plenty of time. So just do this for me ok?"

When he didn't answer right away Hinata walked over and put her hand on his shoulder. "Come on Naruto-kun it won't be that long and it looks like you could use the fresh air." She then looked over her shoulder at Fuu. "Isn't that right Fuu-san?"

"Huh?" Fuu muttered before she realized that everyone's attention was on her. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment at being caught for not having paid attention to the conversation.

"Don't you think that Naruto-kun could use some fresh air?" Hinata asked with a little bit of a harder edge in her voice that promised pain if Fuu disagreed.

One look at the two ladies and Fuu quickly caught on to what was going on. "Yeah of course he could use some fresh air. In fact…"

"See even Fuu-san agrees." Hinata interrupted Fuu which caused a frown for form on the green haired Jinchuriki's face. Hinata then crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Naruto. "So what's it going to be Naruto-kun, yes or no?"

When Naruto still didn't answer but lowered his head so that his hair covered his eyes Hinata had reached her limit. She grabbed him by the arm and started to drag him towards the door "That's it! I've tried doing it the nice way! But if you insist on being stubborn, then I'll just drag your butt out the door!"

"Alright, alright I'll go Hina-chan." Naruto said as he broke free of her grip and started to rub his arm where Hinata had squeezed down. "Damn you're forceful when you want to be."

Hinata got a big grin on her face. "Naturally, I learned from the master!"

A chuckle escaped from Kushina's lips before she waved the trio off. "Now get going you guys. We'll contact you if anything happens while you're gone."

XXXXXXX

A short time later the trio was well on their way to the hotel when a familiar feeling stopped Naruto in his tracks. This chill in the air was the same as the two times he felt it in Wave. He focused all his senses on this feeling until he was finally able to pinpoint it. Without saying a word to his two companions Naruto shot off like a rocket in the direction he sensed this feeling coming from.

"Naruto-kun!" They both shouted as they gave chase wondering just what had gotten into him. When they caught up with him at last Hinata asked what was on both of their minds. "Naruto-kun what's going on?"

"This is the same feeling I felt in Wave…" Naruto trailed off as memories of his last encounter with this feeling plagued his mind. "…the same feeling that led to Haku-niisan getting hurt."

They traveled for several more minutes before they reached the outskirts of the village. The trio stopped just outside of a forest that lined Tanzuku. Naruto took a moment to survey the area, that odd feeling still emanating from somewhere within, before he turned to Hinata. "What do your eyes tell you?"

Hinata focused her chakra into her eyes and activated her Byakugan. The veins around her eyes pulsed with life as she completed her own scan of the vicinity before she focused in on one area in particular. "About two hundred meters in, there's a clearing with two people just standing there. Those must be the ones who are giving you that feeling."

"No traps or anything like that?"

"No." Hinata said as she shook her head in the negative. "It's strange… from their posture I'd say it's almost as if they're waiting for us."

"Waiting for us?" Fuu interjected as she looked at her two companions and from the way they were standing, each ready to defend the other should anything happen she could tell that they did indeed work well together.

"That's what it looks like. Both of them are staring in this direction clearly waiting for something and it looks like one of them is doing something but whatever it is it doesn't use much chakra because I see no change in their signatures." Hinata replied as she focused her eyes on the pair looking for any signs that either one was doing anything to warrant concern.

Naruto remained silent for a moment as his mind tried to work out just what was going on. "And you're sure there's no ambush waiting for us?"

Once again Hinata shook her head in the negative. "As I said it's just the two of them."

"Well then." Naruto said as he looked at both of his companions. "Let's go and find out what they want shall we?"

With the group in agreement they headed off into the forest, as they approached the pair of unknowns Hinata did one final check of the area to ensure that she didn't miss anything. Once she determined that it was safe the trio landed in the clearing. Upon their arrival Naruto was able to get a good look at the people waiting there. The one that was the obvious leader of the two as he stood in front of the other one was the smaller of the two, and appeared to be in his late teens to early twenties with tan hair and a strange type of mark that started just under his left eye and went all the way down his cheek. The taller of the two had black hair that cover his left eye and had what appeared to be a flute with him.

As they approached the leader of the pair got a smile on his face and walked forward an excited spring in his step. "Greetings I've wanted to meet you ever since I learned of your existence. My name is Yagura and this is my associate Utakata."

"Pleasure." Utakata said as he gave a slight bow in greeting.

"Yagura? Now where have I heard that name before?" Naruto asked as he started to tap the side of his chin before a light bulb went off in his head. "Wait a minute you're…"

"Yes. I'm the Yondaime Mizukage." Yagura interrupted as he gave his own bow in greeting. "And I'm currently an enemy of the one you call Terumi Mei."

All three of them tensed at this admission however before things got out of hand Yagura brought his hands up in a nonthreatening manner. "Easy my friends I did not come here to fight you."

"Then why are you here." Naruto said warily as his hand inched ever closer to his weapon's pouch encase things turned ugly.

"As I said before I wanted to meet you." Yagura said his smile never leaving his face. "We are brothers after all."

"Brothers?" Naruto questioned as he started to think that this guy had gone off the deep end. "Sorry to disappoint you but I'm an only child."

"Oh but we are brothers." Yagura replied before he gestured towards Fuu. "Just like this one here is my sister."

Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief at the implication of what was just said, he glanced over at Fuu to see that she had gotten what Yagura meant while Hinata still looked like she was in the dark. "You mean that you're…"

"Yes." Yagura interrupted again before he let his smile get even bigger before he did a big formal bow. "I'm a Jinchuriki just like you. The Sanbi Jinchuriki to be precise."

Both Naruto and Fuu were left speechless as Yagura rose from his bow, he then motioned towards Utakata. "And my friend here is the Jinchuriki of the Rokubi."

"Two Jinchuriki?" Naruto muttered to himself still finding it hard to believe that within the span of just a few weeks he'd already met three others just like him.

"That's right. With the exception of your dark hair friend there we're all brothers and sisters here, but I find it curious that you didn't already know this. Surely Mei would have told you about us, since she's trying to recruit you and all."

"No… she hasn't."

"Curious, very curious…" Yagura said as he brought his hand up to his chin and pondered over this new information. "One has to wonder just why she's chosen to keep this a secret from you. Does she feel that this information isn't important or… was she ordered to? Could her master have ordered her to keep it a secret? Is he afraid of what you'd do if you had learned the truth? It makes you wonder doesn't it?"

"Ordered to?" Naruto asked confused by the sudden ramblings of his fellow Jinschuriki. "What are you saying? That Mei was ordered to lie to us?"

"It would appear so wouldn't it? I can't think of any other reason to keep that information from you?" Yagura replied "I'm curious, do you know the reason why this whole war started?"

"Because you wanted to wipe out all the bloodline clans in Kiri." Naruto said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"That is what the rebels have managed to propagandize, but the truth is far more complicated. It's true that I've started a purge of the bloodline clans. Didn't you ever wonder why?"

"Can't say that I have."

Yagura nodded his head in understanding. "A common flaw amongst humans, they tend to ignore what doesn't affect them. But to enlighten you my brother, I didn't start the purge until after the attempt on my life."

"But that was Zabuza's doing! Even in Taki we learned that it was him acting alone." Fuu interrupted

"Did he really act alone?" questioned Yagura as he turned to face his sister Jinchuriki. "Or was he hired to take me out? Maybe he was even acting under orders."

"Do you always make it a habit of answering with questions?" Naruto shot back as he was starting to get annoyed with the way this was going. It was leaving more questions than answers and it was starting to give him a headache.

The young Mizukage once again turned his attention toward his blonde haired brother. "Forgive me. I was merely trying to point out that in our world not all is as it seems."

Hinata arced her eye brow at this. "Deception? If that's the case how do we know you aren't trying to deceive us? "

"That is a standard practice isn't it? Trick you're enemy into a false pretense and then strike when they are at their weakest." Yagura replied as he seemed to pick at his nails in a bored fashion. "But I assure you that I'm not you're enemy. If anyone's the enemy here it's Tsurugi and his little band of rebels."

"Tsurugi?" Naruto asked as this was the first time he'd ever heard that name.

"He leads the rebels that Mei is a part of. He claims to be fighting for the swift end to my 'tyrannical rule', but I think there is more to his motives than what he is showing. One thing is for certain though; he is a shinobi of the highest caliber and should not be taken lightly.

Tired of the Mizukage dodging the questions that had first asked Hinata leveled her gaze on the young Kage, and without a hint of fear in her voice said "While all this is really fascinating we're getting off track here. You still haven't told use what you want, or even how you managed to lure us out here."

"Apologies my dear it seems that in my excited state I've forgotten my manners." Yagura said as he gave Hinata a small bow before he turned his attention back towards Naruto. "How we brought you out here was quite simple. I assigned Utakata here to keep tabs on Mei and it seems that you my brother are particularly sensitive to the type of surveillance jutsu he uses."

Naruto clinched his fist in repressed anger as he looked at Utakata. "So it was you? You're the reason that I got caught off guard by those Konoha bastards! You're the reason Haku-niisan got hurt!"

"That's not really a fair assessment there brother. We had no idea that you would react that way to our surveillance, besides we both know the real reason why you were attacked on the bridge." Yagura replied with a stern long on his face clearly showing that he didn't like that accusation Naruto had thrown at them.

"The real reason?" questioned Naruto, confused as to what other reason there could have been besides Konoha being filled with a bunch of back stabbers.

"They feared you and your power." Yagura replied, "They fear the power of a Jinchuriki. You know of what I speak. After all this isn't the first time this has happened is it?"

Yagura's lips curled into a slight smile as he noticed Naruto's shocked expression. "I did some digging after I was told about your existence, and while I may not have all the details I do know what happened to you in that coastal village in Cha no Kuni."

At the mention of that Country Naruto flinched and Hinata subconsciously reached up and touched the scar that Fuu had noticed earlier. "I see you remember."

"What do you want?" Naruto growled as his memories of that time started to get the better of him.

"Merely for us to join forces, we Jinchuriki need to stick together." Yagura replied completely unaffected by Naruto's domineer. But before Naruto or anyone else had the chance to answer Yagura added, "Of course you don't have to answer now. I know you have a lot on your plate at the moment what with your friend hurt and your other comrade missing."

When Naruto didn't answer right away but simply stared at the Mizukage with suspicion. Yagura took this as his sign to leave. "I think you have enough to think about right now, so I'll take my leave." Yagura then turned and started to head in the opposite direction as the village, but after only taking a few steps he suddenly stopped as if he just remembered something. "Oh before I go I'd like to give you a good faith gesture. Konoha… your answers lie in Konoha."

"What?"

Yagura said nothing but simply smiled at Naruto before he and Utakata disappeared in a vortex of water. Naruto just stood there for several minutes pondering over what he was just told before his eyes widened in realization at what he was just told. Upon this discovery his body began to shake and trembled with a furry he's never felt before.

"Konoha… again with Konoha. First Haku- niisan and now…" Naruto growled as red chakra began to irradiate from his body. "Damn them! Damn them! DAMN THEM!" he then slammed his fist into the ground subconsciously releasing the red chakra in the process. The resulting chakra explosion was so powerful that if either Hinata or Fuu hadn't used their own chakra to stick to the ground they would have been blown into the air.

As the dust began to settle Hinata activated her Byakugan and began to desperately search for Naruto. She found him in the center of the crater that the explosion had caused his cloths tattered and torn from the backlash. Not wasting any time she took off into the dust cloud to see if he was alright.

When she reached the center she landed right next to Naruto and once she was certain he was fine she grabbed him by the collar of his trench coat. "Just what the hell were you thinking? You could've gotten yourself hurt or worse killed! Just what in the hell possessed you to do something so incredibly stupid?!"

Naruto broke free of Hinata's grip and glared at her his once blue eyes now red with black slits. "Don't you understand? They've got her! Those bastards from Konoha got her?!"

"Yeah I figured that out for myself!" Hinata shout back as she leveled her own glare right back at him before she poked him in the chest. "But how would you have been able to save her if you had gotten yourself killed!"

He tore his gaze away from Hinata as his eyes reverted back to their original blue his anger quelled as the reality of her words sank in. "Y-you're right sorry."

Just then Fuu landed right next to them, she immediately noticed the tension in the air, and was a little reluctant to ask her question but curiosity got the better of her so she asked anyway. "Um… just what answers lie in Konoha?"

The silence that followed the question was deafening and Fuu started to wonder if she had made a mistake asking it. But her newfound fears where proven false when Naruto said "Anko-neechan… Konoha has Anko-neechan."

"But I thought you said they didn't have anything to do with her?"

"Well looks like I was wrong doesn't it!" Naruto snapped as he ruffled his own hair in a despite attempt to alleviate the frustration he's feeling at his own failings. "I honestly thought she was telling me the truth back in Wave. She didn't give off any of the signs that made me suspect she was lying… damn it I was so naïve."

"She? She who?" Hinata asked while she eyed the pair dangerously like she was threatening the two of them with a world of pain if she didn't like the answer.

"It doesn't matter anymore." Naruto said as he dusted himself off. Once finished he got back on his feet and looked off in the direction that his fellow Jinchuriki had gone. "All that matters now is that Konoha's got Nee-chan. We need to get back and tell Kaa-san about this."

"But, what about what Kushina-san wanted us to do? Shouldn't we inform Mei and Zabuza first?"

It only took Naruto a fraction of a second to decide his course of action. "No, we're going back to the Hospital, family always comes first. Now let's get going!"

Naruto, Hinata, and Fuu had only just made it back into the waiting room of the hospital when they discovered that Mei and Zabuza were actually here, and from the look of things they had been waiting for them for quite some time. Once the door was shut Kushina walked right up to Naruto a look of disapproval was reflected in her eyes.

"And just where have you lot been? I sent you out to get a little fresh air and inform Mei here about what's going on, only to have Mei come here and tell me that you three never showed up. Then I sense a spike in Kyuubi's chakra only for it to disappear soon after. So tell me what the hell is going on?" Kushina said as she tapped her right foot impatiently and waited for one of the three to answer.

Naruto took a deep breath to steady his nerves and mentally prepared himself for the conversation ahead. "We found out where Anko-neechan is."

"W-What?" Kushina stuttered, her former anger forgotten, and stared at Naruto for a second before she grabbed him by the shoulders, a look of desperation reflected in her eyes. "Where… where is she?!"

"Konoha…" Naruto replied as he averted his gaze away from his mother since the shame he felt for failing to learn this earlier became too much to bare. "She's in Konoha."

"Are you sure? I mean absolutely sure about this?" Kushina asked even though she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, a feeling that told her that Naruto was right and her adoptive daughter was now in the hands of a place that had caused her so much pain and suffering.

"Yes."

"No." Kushina whispered as she dropped to her knees from the shock of her worst fears coming to life. Her shock soon turned to rage as she clenched her fists and growled "Konoha."

Meanwhile Mei approached the pair, and eyed Naruto curiously. "You were so sure that it wasn't them when we left Wave. So what changed?"

Naruto just stared at Mei as his encounter with Yagura repeated within in mind. "Why should I tell you? You're the one that's been ordered to keep secrets from us."

"Ordered… to… keep secrets?" Mei muttered taken aback by Naruto's accusation totally baffled by where this was coming from. "What are you talking about?"

Anger flared within Naruto at her still denying the fact that she's withheld information from them. "What am I talking about? Well how about the fact that the Yondaime Mizukage is a Jinchuriki. Don't you think that was something we needed to know about?"

Mei's eyes widened in shock at this revelation but she quickly recovered and put on a mask of indifference. "And just how did you come by this information?"

"So you're not denying it?" Naruto shot back still angered that something as important as this was kept from them.

"No, but I didn't deem that information relevant at the time anyway."

"Not relevant?" Kushina chimed in as she got to her feet a look of furry plastered all over her face. "How is that not relevant? You know damn well the amount of power a Jinchuriki has! That kind of information would have better prepared us for the dangers we would have been facing. So how is that not relevant?!"

Mei's expression never changed as she kept up her mask of indifference, but while she appeared to be calm and collective on the outside she was silently very worried on the inside. She never intended this information to get out until after they had already agreed to help, but now that the cat was out of the bag she had to do her best to salvage the situation. "Until I was sure that you would help us end his mad reign of terror, I didn't want it getting out that our two Jinchuriki had gone mad."

"They didn't seem mad to me." Naruto mumbled which elicited a nod of agreement from Hinata, and Fuu.

Comprehension dawned on Mei's face at Naruto's last statement. "They're the ones… they're the ones that told you were to find your missing comrade."

"What if they were? They were nothing but upfront with us from the start. Besides with their resources why shouldn't we trust them on this matter?"

"Naruto you don't know what he's like." Mei said with a slight hint of desperation in her voice, as she couldn't afford to lose these people as possible allies in her fight against the Mizukage. If she did she was sure that his forces would win the war and that was something she couldn't let happen no matter what. "I'm not sure what he told you, but he's a ruthless individual that will do whatever it takes to achieve his goals. If that means parting out information to improve his chances of winning the war than that's what he'll do."

"Enough!" Kushina shouted as she had finally reached her limit with this conversation, and once all eyes were on her she let her feelings known. "We'll deal with this later! Right now my only concern is freeing Anko-chan and getting her out of Konoha."

Mei looked at the other red-haired woman in disbelief. "And just how are you going to do that? Konoha is the strongest Shinobi village around. It's not like you can just waltz right in there and get her back."

"Actually we can." Kushina replied much to the surprise of everyone, and once she saw the confusion written all over their faces, or in the case of Naruto and Hinata hope, she decided to elaborate. "Not far from Konoha is an old Uzumaki shrine. There we'll find a secret tunnel that will lead us into the clan sector of Konoha. From there all we have to do is make our way to the I&T department without being seen."

"How can you be so sure about this? Wouldn't the Hokage have that route guarded?"

"No he doesn't even know of its existence." Kushina replied once again surprising everyone. "Only four people even knew about it, and out of them there are only two left alive. Myself being one of them."

Mei eyed Kushina carefully as if weighing everything she said against her many years of experience before she asked "And the other one what kept them from telling the Hokage about this weak point."

"Simple really, she had a seal placed on her that prevents that information from getting out." Kushina said before she lowered her head as a since of sadness washed over her. "It was Minato-kun's idea. He didn't want anyone knowing of the escape route he made for me if things ever got too ugly."

A somber silence permeated the room at the implications of just how far Minato was willing to go in order to protect his family. The silence was finally broken when the door leading to the operating room opened and Tsunade came out. "He's going to be just fine. It was a little touch and go for a while but with a little rest Haku's going to make a full recovery."

A round of smiles broke out on the faces of Naruto, Kushina and Hinata from hearing such great news, but the joyful atmosphere was very muted which peeked Tsunade's curiosity and that's when she noticed the somber mood of the rest of their party. "What's going on? I thought there'd be more celebrating after hearing such news?"

"We just found out that Konoha were the ones that kidnapped Anko-chan." Kushina replied her somber attitude returning. "Now that we know Haku-kun will pull through I need to ask you to look after him for a little while, while we got and get Anko-chan."

"No." Tsunade said as her eyes hardened her anger rising at the knowledge that Konoha had taken another of her precious people from her. "Shizune can stay and look after Haku and Kimmimaru. I'm going with you."

"Tsunade-sama?"

Memories of the ones Tsuande had lost in the past flashed through her mind as a determined look on her face. "Konoha may have taken Dan and Nawaki away from me, but I'll be damned if I let them take anyone else."

Kushina's lips curled into a vibrant smile as she bowed her head slightly and said "Thank you Tsunade-sama."

"I'm going too." Kimmimaru interjected, and before anyone could form a protest he continued, "I refuse to just stand by while one of us is suffering."

"No Kimmimaru-kun! You're still sick!" Kushina protested as she didn't want to risk the life of one of her sick family members to save another. "Just stay here and rest."

"I'm doing much better now Kushina-sama I can do this."

"But…"

"It's fine Kushina. He's responded well to his treatments and has almost fully recovered." Tsunade said as she had seen the look in Kimmimaru's eyes and knew that nothing said to him would change his mind.

Kushina mulled over what was said for several moments before she said "Well if you're sure…" She then turned two the two Kiri shinobi of their group. "What about you two? Are you going to join us?"

"I didn't sign up for that." Zabuza immediately replied, "I only agreed with Mei to fight the Mizukage nothing else." He then pushed himself off the wall that he was leaning against and made his way towards the exit. "Besides what you're talking about is suicide. You'd be better off cutting your loses."

"You bastard!" both Naruto and Hinata shouted but before either of them could move towards him Kushina moved with lightning speed and slammed him up against the wall he had just been leaning against. If looks could kill Kushina's glare would have incinerated him on the spot. "I will never abandon her! Do I make myself clear?!" She then slammed him up against the wall so hard that cracks began to form. "Well do I?!"

"Crystal." Zabuza wheezed out as Kushina released her grip.

The enraged red-head then turned her attention towards Mei. "And I suppose you don't want to help either. I bet you want to hurry back to Kiri now that you've accomplished your mission."

"No Kushina I'll help you." Mei replied without any hesitation. "We made a deal when we first met and I intend to honor it."

Kushina eyed Mei for a moment before she said "Is that the only reason you're doing this?"

Mei stayed quiet for a moment as she contemplated how to answer, then when she was sure of her reasons she gave them her answer. "No it isn't. I feel like I have to prove myself to you now and this is the best way to do this."

"Very well then we welcome your help."

After all that had been settled Tsunade placed her hand on Kushina's shoulder in a reaffirming gesture and said "Now let's get going. I think Anko's been kept waiting long enough."

"Right!" Kushina said as she nodded her head in agreement before she turned to face the rest of the group. "All right people! We move out in the morning so I want everyone well rested. Because… come hell or high water we are getting her out of there!"

XXXXXXX

Next Chapter: Infiltration!

Author's note 2: Well I hoped you liked this installment, and will be here for the next time. Please review and tell me what you think. Thanks in advance. Until next time!