Disclaimer-I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 7

An Old Enemy

Later after supper, the group was still in their meeting room, discussing how they should approach Isamu's vision. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura listened as Miniko explained the enemies Isamu saw. When they she finished everyone was silent.

"So what you're saying Miniko is that a group of Shinobi are coming for Isamu, possibly tonight, who want him because of his ability to foretell the future?" Sasuke recapped everything.

Miniko nodded, "Yes, that's it exactly! The supporters of this group is all made up of shinobi, some with unique abilities and can be really dangerous, so it's too much of a risk to just wait around!"

"That's awful! Why would people do something like that?" Sakura asked.

Miniko shook her head, "I don't know why they are doing this. However the one thing I do know is that these Shinobi don't stop at anything!"

Sasuke gave Miniko a suspicious look, "Did you get this information on this group from Isamu's vision? You seem to know quite a lot."

Miniko's stomach went into a knot as she slowly shook her, "Well, no…"

"So you know about this group already? How?" He continued.

Miniko noticed Sakura was also questioning with her now. She darted her eyes away to avoid their stares, "From my Uncle and older brother," She finally answered. "For years they've been trying to track down this group and I would occasionally overhear them discussing them. That's all…"

"Really? Look Miniko, if you have more information on this group you should tell us. There is no point going into a fight blind if we don't have to." Sasuke pointed out to her. "So if you know anything else, tell us now."

Miniko's palms sweated and her body shook. She was running out of things to tell them about the agency without getting into personal details. Her parents, her siblings, and Gaara, all them have had been affected by the agency for her sake. She couldn't stand the sight of it and vowed to involve any more people. She knew in a way, she was being selfish, but she just couldn't get herself to involve people again.

As Miniko tried to think of what she could say, Naruto came to her rescue.

Naruto stood up, "Give it a rest Sasuke! She says that's all she knows!" He turned to Miniko, "I don't really believe in this future-telling stuff but I'm with you Miniko!" He said to her with a promising look on his face.

With Naruto's support, she began to feel more at ease. She returned a grateful smile to him before confronting Sasuke again. "Look, I promise I am not holding any information that will affect the mission. The one thing I do know is that if this is the group of Shinobi I'm thinking of, Isamu is in a lot danger and we need to protect him!"

Sasuke and Sakura both took a moment before responding. Finally Sasuke sighed, "Alright, as long as you're sure that there is nothing else we should know."

Miniko let out a sigh of relief. "Thanks everyone…" Miniko gave them all a thankful smile before getting back to business. "Alright everyone, I already contacted Kakashi and he said he will get here as soon as he can. He advised us to be on our guards until he arrives. I should be able to use my telepathy to hear if anyone suspicious is coming."

Naruto's hand went into a fist and slammed against his palm, "Alright, I'm all fired up now! Let's see how accurate Isamu's vision is when the great Naruto Uzumaki is involved!"

"Okay everyone," Sasuke started "We don't know when the enemy could attack, so we should all be ready for battle right away. Let's go prepare our supplies and meet back in the hallway near Isamu's bedroom as soon as possible."

Everyone nodded in agreement and quickly made their way out of the room. Miniko followed behind but stopped at the door when she saw Isamu standing alone. She hurried over to him, giving him a stern look. "Isamu! You shouldn't be alone right now!"

He ignored her warning, "What does it matter? Alone or not, I'm going to be taken away. What you're trying to do is pointless..."

Miniko shook her head, "You're wrong Isamu, what I'm doing is not pointless. Vision or not, I made a promise to protect you and I'm going to follow through with it."

Isamu looked to the ground, his body trembling with frustration, "I don't get you Miniko! I've been able to see the future as long as I can remember! Every day I wake up knowing exactly what's going to happen and never once were any of them wrong before!" He looked at her with anger in his eyes, "So what make you so sure that everything will be okay?!"

Miniko took a moment to reply before taking a deep breath, "To be truly honest Isamu, I'm not completely sure what's going to happen. All I do know is that nothing will change if we sit around and do nothing," Miniko walked up to him and put his hands on his shoulder, "That is why no matter what happens, I'm going to do all that I can to protect you and you can count on me for that!"

Isamu's body slowly stopped shaking and Miniko could feel his body become more relaxed, "I don't get you, Miniko." He looked to the ground as large tears suddenly started to roll down his cheek, "Why are you trying so hard for me?"

"Because I don't want to lose any more people who I care about, that's why." Miniko said to him.

Isamu looked up at her and when he saw her determination, he felt all his doubt disappear. He sniffed and wiped away some of his tears, "I-I don't want to be taken away either, not when I'm just starting to finally get to know you." A small smile appeared on his face, "I also don't want to lose people I care about either, so no matter what make sure you come out okay too!"

Miniko nodded, "I promise!"

XXXXXX

Miniko and her teammates guarded the front of the hallway that led to Isamu's bedroom, ready for a possible attack. Miniko used her telepathy throughout the mansion and around the village so she could pick up any suspicious thoughts. If anyone did see the enemies entering the house, she would be able to warn the others. In Isamu's bedroom, they also had a guard staying with him in case the enemy broke in and Miniko had her attention focused there as well.

As the night went on, Miniko could hear less and less sounds around the village. By the time midnight came around, she was only able to hear the faint thoughts of the few people still awake in the village and the mansion guards.

"Miniko have you heard anything out of the ordinary?" Sasuke asked.

Miniko shook her head, 'No, the entire village is quiet right now… But for now I'll keep on listening." She focused her chakra more so she could listen further. Her head has been throbbing for hours. Never has she used her telepathy for this long, on this many people without stopping. She felt a sudden sharp pain and she clutched her forehead as she wobbled to her knees.

'Miniko!" Both Naruto and Sakura hurried over to her.

"Are you alright?" Sakura told her

Miniko slowly stood back up and nodded, "I'm okay now, I just forced a bit too much chakra."

"Is it even safe for you to be using your abilities this long? You've been at this for hours. " Naruto said

Miniko knew it wasn't a good idea to overuse her telepathy like this, however taking a rest was completely out of the question. Not only did she promise Isamu that she would protect him, she was also fully aware that she herself could possibly be in danger. If these Shinobi are from that same agency she's been hiding from and they noticed her powers, she very much so could be taken as well. There is no why she could let her guard drop now.

However, despite her fear, she knew this was something she had to do. She spent the past four years hiding, letting the ones she loves protect her. She's Mayu's older sister and she was just sitting around worrying instead of searching for her. The guilt of how helpless she felt has become nearly unbearable. She has tried countless times to persuade her uncle to let her help but each time he would refuse to let her help.

XXXXXX

The last time she tried to reason with him once again a few months back. Her uncle was at the table and the two of them just finished eating when Miniko brought up the topic again.

"Uncle it's because of me Mayu was taken! I should be helping search for her! My telepathy is much stronger now, so maybe I can try and find her using that!" Miniko argued.

"No Miniko, for the last time there is far too much risk in you getting involved in this!" Her uncle said, raising his voice.

"But-"

"I said no!" He snapped.

Miniko's muscles tensed with anger, "What am I supposed to do then?!" Miniko spat, "Do you expect me to just sit around like a princess?!"

Suddenly her uncle slammed his fist on the table so loudly it made Miniko jump. "Enough Miniko!" He turned to her, his face red with anger, "Even if you do manage to find the agency, do you plan on just walking in and demanding to get Mayu back? Not only would you be putting yourself at risk, but Mayu too. If they were to capture you, there is no saying they would let Mayu go or even let her live. Do you really want to be responsible for that!?" He looked away, "End of discussion."

Miniko's body was still shaking and she knew there was nothing else she could say. Hot, angry tears rolled down her cheeks as turned and hurried to her room, slamming the door behind her.

XXXXXX

However, despite her Uncle's warning, she has now just thrown herself directly into the fire. Uncle isn't going to be happy if he hears about this…But I can't just hide away all my life

When Miniko finally felt like she regained enough chakra, she got back to work using her telepathy.

"I'm going to get back to work now." Miniko said.

"Okay, but don't push yourself." Naruto warned.

Miniko nodded, "I won't." She focused her Chakra again. She tried to listen to the thoughts of the other guards around the mansion but everything is silent. That's strange, everything is so quiet now? Am I still too low on Chakra?

Suddenly they heard the loud footsteps and soon saw a group of guards ran past their hallway towards the front entrance.

"Hurry! The enemies are still at the front of the mansion!" Said one of the guards

The four of them stopped in their place, shocked.

"What the enemies are in the mansion right now?" Sakura gasped.

"Miniko, why weren't you able to identify the intruders?" Sasuke questioned

Miniko's mind jumbled as she tried to make sense, "I-I don't know! I couldn't hear anything! Not even the guards! I was like someone blocked my telepathy!" Miniko suddenly gasped. There was only one person she knew who have blocked her telepathy before.

The guard stopped and looked at them, "You're Shinobi right?! Don't just stand there!" he shouted before joining the rest of the guards.

Naruto turned to all of them, "Come on guys, we can figure out what happened later! Right now we need to get to Isamu!"

They turned and hurried down the hall as fast as she could to Isamu's room. As they ran Miniko tried to contact Isamu using her telepathy, but she couldn't hear him. If the reason I can't use my telepathy is because someone blocked it, it could be a sign the SHE is here then." Miniko picked up speed and ran ahead. Dear god please let me be wrong!

"Isamu!" Miniko shouted as she barged into the room. Once inside Miniko gasped and her stomach turned. Isamu's bed was empty and the man guarding him was lying on the floor nearby. Oh god no!

Miniko then saw Isamu by the window, his arms and legs tied up and a cloth was muzzled over his mouth to prevent him from screaming. His body lashed as her tried to break free from his captor's grasp.

Isamu I'm coming-" Miniko said coming forward.

"Now there is a voice I haven't heard in quite some time. I may have lost my sight, but your voice is something I'll always recognize" Spoke a familiar voice.

Miniko stopped in her track and her body froze as she suddenly made eye contact with Isamu's captor: A pale skinned, teenaged girl, with long blonde hair that was tied into two long ponytails. "Y-Yuna!" She uttered.

Yuna looked at Miniko with an eerie smile on her face that made her skin crawl, "Long time no see, my dear old friend. Did you miss me?"

Miniko could feel a cold sweat run down her back and her pupils shrank. Isamu was still in Yuna's grasp, looking at her with pleading eyes. I need to get to him! She thought but her body couldn't move.

"Miniko!" Naruto shouted as he ran into the room, Snapping Miniko out of her trance. The others came running in right behind him.

"My Miniko, you sure have gotten popular! There is always someone new rushing in to help you!" Yuna teased.

"Let him go!" Naruto warned as he charged toward Yuna with a kunai.

Yuna kicked Naruto, sending him across the room, "Augh and here I thought sand-boy was annoying." She looked back at Miniko. "Well it's been fun Miniko but it seems I'll have to leave you for now." Yuna said taking out a smoke bomb.

Miniko caught a glance of the terrified look in Isamu's eyes and ran to him, "Isamu! Isamu!" She shouted, running towards him. But Yuna shot her back with her telekinesis.

"Bye-bye dearest Miniko…" Yuna sang before throwing the smoke bomb on the floor.

Miniko pushed off herself off the ground onto her knee, "Isamu!" She shouted.

But it was too late, Yuna and Isamu were already gone.

Naruto ran over and looked out the window, "I can't see her anywhere!"

"Miniko, can't you use your telepathy to find them?" Sasuke asked.

Miniko looked to the ground and shook her head, "No, she ended up blocking my telepathy. That is why I couldn't hear anyone earlier." She explained.

"Damnit! What now?!" Naruto

They heard footsteps and they saw two of the guards came rushing into the room, "The enemies have fell back! Is Isamu-Sama-" The man didn't even finish his sentence before he gasped. "What?! Where is Isamu-Sama?!"

The other man noticed the guard in charge of Isamu on the floor, "Makoto!" He gasped running over. "He's still breathing…" He said relieved.

Miniko looked at the floor. If only I got here earlier…The image of Isamu's helpless eyes staring at her flashed through her mind. She failed. Miniko promised Isamu she would protect him, but she failed. Isamu…Miniko's hands clenched into a fist and her body shook as it heated up with guilt and anger. Why did I have to freeze up like that!? If I didn't Isamu would still be here! Now, I can't even use my telepathy to find him! Frustration shut her eyes. I don't know what to do! I'm just as helpless as I was back in Suna!

Painful memories from Suna of the time she first she encountered Yuna. That night because of her, she nearly lost her brother, Gaara was put in danger and if it wasn't for her parents, she wouldn't even be here today.

Suddenly Miniko realized something. Wait a second…That night. Yuna also sealed my telepathy but somehow, it managed to break… Miniko stood up. That's right! My chakra did something that made me able to use it again! She suddenly started focusing her chakra as hard as she could. Please…Let this work!

"Who cares that we don't know the way!" Naruto was arguing, "We can't just sit here!"

"Wandering aimlessly won't help with anything Naruto!" Sakura said, "We should wait for Kakashi-sensei!"

"But it'll be too late!" Naruto stopped and looked at Miniko. "What are you doing?" He asked, making the others turn.

Miniko didn't answer. Come on, come on, come on! Her Chakra began to build up more and more, beginning to feel as if it was stabbing her brain with thousands of tiny needles. Suddenly her chakra jolted, making her fall to her knees and she was able to faintly hear Isamu's voice.

I'm scared…someone help me!

Miniko's head was pounding, but relief filled her body. I found him!

"Miniko are you alright?" She suddenly heard Naruto ask, coming to her aid.

Miniko ignored his question, "I found him! They're heading northwest!"

"But I thought you couldn't use telepathy right now? What happened?" Sakura asked.

"No time to explain, we have to hurry!" Miniko said quickly leaving from the window.

"Come on let's go!" Naruto called as he joined her.

The others soon followed as Miniko lead the way as they hurried, Isamu, this time I'm going to protect you!

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