Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the places, characters, items within it. These are all owned by the amazing Masashi Kishimoto.

I only own my Original Characters, plot work, relationships and events that are not already canon.

Thank you.


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seven

team 10


Father,

The mission was a failure. Akatsuki has begun extracting Two-Tails. My team has been sent back to Kumo. I will return once Akatsuki has been dealt with.

Don't worry about me.

Akiko.


The Fourth Raikage sat restlessly in his large chair, a severe expression of distaste and worry spread across his face. Next to him stood the level-headed Dodai, esteemed attendant, and Mabui, the Raikage's assistant who held the scroll his daughter had sent. Bee stood off to the side, seemingly talking to himself with clenched fists as he stared outside at the clear sky.

Ay's intense and dark gaze bore down on the three young Jounin kneeling before him. They looked like they had seen better days. Their skin was ashen, smudged with dirt, and their eyes housed dark bags underneath them.

"Raikage-sama." A voice called out from the three. It was Yayoi, who was flanked by her two teammates. Her blank gaze stared straight at him. "We have failed the mission." Her head bowed, more so in guilt rather than shame.

Almost a week had passed since Akiko and her team had left the village to search for Yugito. It would be a lie to say he wasn't worried, but he trusted his only daughter. He had faith in her abilities, because if anyone could bring back Yugito, it would be her. Hearing of their failure in doing so, the last thing on his mind was disappointment. In truth, he'd lost a second daughter.

And now, he placed his trust in his daughter still. He believed in her judgement, for her to deal with Akatsuki – not for vengeance, but for the sake of the bigger picture.

Ay softened his gaze slightly, as he addressed the young shinobi. "We will prepare a farewell for Yugito." Everyone nodded their head in understanding. "Take leave to rest. You are dismissed."

His daughter's team rose to their feet, two making their way out of his office, although one lingered behind.

"Raikage-sama!" The kunoichi exclaimed. "I beg of you, let us return to Akiko-sensei!"

"Kurai!" Hiroi hissed, reaching to grab his teammates arm.

She stubbornly yanked her arm away, angry tears streaming down her face. "No! We must go back and help her! We can't just sit here and do nothing!"

From the corner of his eye, Ay could see his assistant shift uneasily on her feet. She was good friends with Akiko and Yugito, no doubt the younger kunoichi's words had affected her slightly. Next to her, Dodai remained passive as he watched the outburst.

Before the Raikage could turn down Kurai's plea, Yayoi beat him to it.

"That's enough, Kurai!" Her back remained to her teammates. "Akiko-sensei sent us back home for our safety. What would we be able to do against Akatsuki? We would only slow her down, and put all our lives in danger. Don't say such foolish things without thinking through the consequences." With that, she made her way out of the office.

Kurai's distress only increased with more tears, but she seemed to absorb what Yayoi was trying to get across. This time she allowed Hiroi to drag her away, not before they both bowed their head in apology.

With the young shinobi out of the room, Mabui finally spoke up.

"Is it logical for Akiko to face them on her own, Raikage-sama?" She didn't try to hide her worry.

"Akiko is more than capable of taking care of herself, and judging by her team's report, she is currently with the Leaf. I hope they are competent enough to offer her help."

"But-"

"Let us not forget she has already faced them twice, and come back alive each time." Dodai added. "We can only trust in her abilities. She's smart, she knows what she's doing." Akiko was trained by some Kumo's strongest shinobi, she was his very own pupil.

Sniffling could be heard from the corner of the room. All three turned their heads in the direction, taking in the sight of Bee's shaking form.

"Bee?"

The man in question turned around slowly. A waterfall of tears streamed down his cheeks from behind his dark glasses, and a bubble formed at his nose. His breathing was uneven, and an ugly wail escaped his mouth.

"…Buraza…!"

Sweat slid down the sides of Dodai and Mabui's faces.

"Bee!" Ay growled, eye twitching.


It was Akiko's third, and last, day in Konoha.

By tonight, Akatsuki will have completed the extraction of Nibi from Yugito. Meaning it was finally time for Akiko to move out against Kakuzu and Hidan.

After visiting Asuma the day before, she then went to meet with Tsunade. She let the Hokage know of her plans to stop the Akatsuki duo, and the older kunoichi offered a team to aid her. Akiko didn't need to worry about others and put their lives at risk, it was this exact reason that she sent her own team back home to Kumo. But the Hokage didn't take no for an answer.

Akiko was finishing off resealing the small number of belongings she always carried with her on missions, when she heard a knock on her door.

Sensing three different chakra signatures, she opened the door to reveal Asuma's three Chuunin. At her appearance, all three bowed their heads simultaneously. Akiko was humoured by their formal behaviour, and leaned against the door pane casually when their heads rose to look her in the eye.

"Yo." She offered them a relaxed grin, crossing her arms across her chest. "How can I help you?"

All three seemed slightly unnerved by her relaxed greeting. She wasn't the kunoichi they had seen in battle, but rather in her place, was a woman who portrayed the nature of an older sister.

"Uh…" The awkward sound came from the dark-haired boy who had thanked Akiko.

The older kunoichi couldn't help but smirk, amusedly, at the sight of the kid's blond teammate elbowing him painfully in the side, while the other happily munched on a bag of potato chips.

"Sorry to bother you, Akiko-sama." The platinum-haired kunoichi stated, cerulean eyes not exactly meeting Akiko's own golden orbs. "We are Asuma-sensei's students. I'm Ino, these two are Shikamaru and Chouji."

Akiko nodded her head slowly. "I know who you three are. What can I do for you?"

"We…uh…" This time it seemed like it was Ino who had trouble forming words.

"We wanted to thank you for saving Asuma-sensei." Chouji spoke, mouth filled with crisps. His teammates nodded their heads, all donning a sombre expression as they recalled the near-death of their sensei. "Usually we go to Yakiniku Q as a team to eat."

"But since Asuma-sensei is still in hospital, we wanted to know if you'd like to join us?" Shikamaru finished off.

Akiko stared intensely at their young faces, as she remembered Asuma mentioning them hiding something. They looked as though they hadn't slept properly, and she could place something different in the lazy gaze of Shikamaru. She shrugged her shoulders, and offered a kind smile.

"Sure, I could eat."


Konoha was bustling with busy villagers, who still managed to hold kind smiles on their faces. The warm sun felt good on Akiko's skin as she trailed after Asuma's students, and followed them into the restaurant.

The smell of sizzling meat and cheerful murmurs of customers surrounded her. The young Chuunin led her towards a booth with green seats, and she sat herself next to Ino and across from Shikamaru, who had Chouji on his left.

An older woman placed menus in front of them, greeting each kid by name and offering Akiko a warm smile. Personally, Akiko favoured seafood, mainly because it was all Yugito ever wanted to eat. Her eyes caught sight of the alcohol offered, and she heavily contemplated ordering a drink, even if it was barely midday. Countless of times would she and Yugito indulge in daytime drinking and eating Kumo's seafood delicacies.

As her eyes scanned over the red meats, she could catch the whispered murmurs shared between Asuma's students.

"Did you guys bring your wallets?" Ino asked the boys. Chouji shook his head, eyes greedily reading the menu and mouth salivating.

Shikamaru stared at his best friend, shaking his head and sighing. "Tch, what a drag. I guess we'll have to split then."

"A woman should never have to pay!" Ino huffed.

"You're not exactly a woman," Chouji grumbled before muttering about the divine meat he would be able to eat.

Ino's brow twitched. "What did you say fat-"

"Oi." Shikamaru cut her off. "We don't have any other choice. Asuma-sensei isn't here to take the bill, so we will have to."

"Whatever." She hissed. "As long as Chouji sticks with only three dishes and doesn't get anything from the deluxe menu." Shikamaru nodded in agreement.

Chouji gaped at his teammates. "What?! How can you expect me to place a limit on my hunger?!"

Before an argument could start between the three Chuunin, Akiko moved the menu away from her face. "Is everything alright?" She asked innocently, as if she hadn't heard their bickering.

"Akiko-sama, don't worry everything is fine!" Blubbered Ino who laughed nervously. The other two boys even had embarrassed flushes on their cheeks.

Akiko couldn't understand their nervousness of being in her presence. She prided herself in being approachable and kind back home, unlike her father and ojii-chan who always wore a scowl. She often spent time with the village children on her days off, and was seen almost sisterly or mother-like. Apparently, these traits weren't recognised by the young Leaf-nin.

Nonetheless, she smiled at them. "Well I'm ready to order."

They nodded their head, and Shikamaru hailed a waiter.

Akiko was expecting the older woman who first greeted them, but was surprised to see a young man with a stained apron walk up to their booth. He was tall and lean, with smooth, fair skin. He was probably a few years her junior, although he had a youthful face.

"Oh, it's you three!" He exclaimed happily. "You guys haven't been here in a while. Where's Asuma-san-" His light eyes set themselves on Akiko and his mouth parted in slight awe. A deep flush spread across his face once he realised she was staring up at him. "Uh…w-what would y-you l-like to o-order?"

Akiko watched as the waiter took down the Team 10's orders, all while trying to peek at her. As she ordered her food last, she glanced at Chouji's disheartened expression of holding himself back. Tugging on the sleeve of the waiter, she pulled him down to whisper into his ear.

"Do you mind adding a few of your prime beef fillet dishes, and a bottle of sake too, please? Don't let them know."

The waiter simply nodded, his face fully flushed at their close proximity. Moving away and letting him go, she nodded her head in thanks and watched as he stumbled away hastily.

Sighing to herself with closed eyes, she shifted back in her seat and relaxed. She had to admit she felt bad for the Chuunin, and even though they were supposedly meant to thank her for saving Asuma, she didn't want added praise. And the weight of her purse reminded her that these were only kids with little money from missions, she was the adult here and she would pay for them.

When she opened her eyes, all three Chuunin were staring at her apprehensively. She chuckled light heartedly.

"You three look so tense." They shifted in their seats awkwardly. "Is it because I'm scary?" At her teasing tone, they jumped. "It is, isn't it?"

"N-no, not at all, Akiko-sama," Ino reassured next to her. "We just wanted to thank you, that's all."

"Yeah." Chouji agreed, eyes squinted. "How do you know Asuma-sensei, anyways?"

Akiko hummed in thought, accepting their diversion to the real reason she knew they came to her. She leaned further into her seat.

"I met Asuma, nearly twenty years ago. He was with Kurenai-" At the mention of the dark-haired kunoichi they perked up. "-and…Kakashi."

"Wait, you know Kurenai-sensei and Kakashi-sensei?" Chouji questioned.

Akiko nodded her head in confirmation. "We were all around your age, maybe a bit older. We were both on missions at the time."

This time Ino leaned into her. "Did you and Asuma-sensei have a one-off fling?"

Akiko couldn't help but laugh, waving the younger kunoichi away. "Don't be ridiculous, even I could see how much he and-" She cut herself off as she recalled Asuma mentioning something about a running gag he and Kurenai had regarding their relationship. "No, he's nothing but a friend." She said instead.

Ino sagged in disappointment, but she and Chouji resumed their questioning. Shikamaru remained silent, but attentively listened.

"So, if you knew Asuma-sensei when you were both teenagers, how old are you exactly?" Ino pondered aloud.

"I'm thirty."

"What?!" Ino exclaimed. "You look barely a day over twenty-three! What's you're secret?! Your exercise routine?! Your diet?!"

Akiko raised a brow at the younger kunoichi's antics, while Shikamaru and Chouji sighed to themselves. "Don't concern yourself with these things, Ino. You're much too young."

The platinum blond simply blinked in confusion.

"Aren't you from Kumogakure, Akiko-sama?" At her nod, he leaned forward excitedly. "Is it true your seafood delicacies rival Kiri?"

She smirked, leaning forward as well. "It's true. Call me bias, but Kumo wins, hands down."

He almost squealed as he fell back, and Akiko swore she saw stars in his eyes. "One day, Chouji, one day." He mumbled to himself.

Akiko laughed lightly as she leaned back. A waitress presented herself at the table, placing glasses and a jug of water in the centre, before placing the sake Akiko ordered in front of her.

Reaching her hand out and gripping the sake bottle and pouring some into her cup, she glanced at Shikamaru. He had barely spoken a word, and Akiko could see the black bags under his eyes were just a bit darker than his teammates. His pale skin just a bit more sicklier.

But she couldn't blame him.

He was young, and he had his first taste of death just days ago. Unlike his teammates, he had been there to witness everything, the near fall of Sarutobi Asuma. If Akiko had been too late, had Hidan been able to hit his mark, everything the kid knew would be tarnished. She could already see the cracks in his reality.

Such was the life of shinobi.

She had been through everything he faced now, before she had even lived a decade in this world.

As she gulped down the warm sake, over the edge of the glass, her eyes urged him to speak what was on his mind.

She had barely placed her glass back down on the table, when he took the bait and blurted out the real question he wanted an answer to. The question many had asked, and received an airy answer.

"Why did you save us?" He pushed. "You could've turned the other way; our villages aren't allies. Even if you and Asuma-sensei are friends, it doesn't make any sense!"

Chouji and Ino, who were idly chatting to themselves, turned their heads to face Shikamaru in shock. Akiko remained passive.

"Tsunade-sama," Shikamaru continued. "I heard her talking about how Akatsuki has your friend. You could've saved her, yet you saved all of us instead. Why?!"

If he had said this to her a few days before, Akiko was sure she would've snapped at him. But she had given herself the necessary time to grieve her personal loss, to reflect and accept.

"Shikamaru!" Ino hissed. "You can't speak to Akiko-sama like that!" Even Chouji had nudged his best friend in warning.

"Before I answer," Akiko began calmly. "I have my own question I'd like to ask."

Shikamaru's hazel eyes narrowed at her, but he conceded with a nod.

"Who is the most important person in your village?"

Both Ino and Chouji seemed to want to blurt out their answer, but Shikamaru held himself back, sending her a calculating stare. Asuma had mentioned to her that he had asked a similar question to Shikamaru, but the genius still hadn't figured out the answer.

"I don't want you three to give me an answer, but rather I want you to think. Once you figure it out for yourself, then you will understand why I did what I did."

Sitting back, further into her seat, she watched as they contemplated what she said to them.

"I'm…confused." Chouji muttered under his breath. Akiko smiled at him comfortingly, as she was sure he wasn't the only one confused.

"There was one day when I was just a kid at the Academy, my sensei had asked; 'If it comes down to it, would you save your best friend or a team of ninja working under your leadership?'" She recalled that day like it was only yesterday. "Half the class happily proclaimed they would save their best friend, the other half arguing placing the team's safety first."

The young Leaf-nin were silent, listening keenly as she spoke.

"Being the granddaughter of the Third Raikage, I had cockily claimed they were all fools, because 'a real shinobi would never allow a situation like that to happen in the first place.'"

Akiko couldn't help but chuckle humourlessly, as she gazed at each of their young faces.

"The only fool that day was myself. Because the truth is? There is nothing we can do to prevent something like that happening, especially in our lives as shinobi. We can only prepare."

As she finished off her sentence, that waiter who took their order returned and served their food with a shaky hand and flushed face, before moving away clumsily. Akiko switched the grill on.

"But how can you be sure you've done the right thing in a situation like that?" Shikamaru whispered, wide-eyed. Almost as if he was trying to learn a secret.

"I can't answer that for you." Shikamaru stared at her with a troubled expression. Even Chouji and Ino seemed displeased at her cryptic answer. "I'll give you a hint though. Once you're finally able to accept the reality of your actions – the battles you engage in, the sacrifices you make, the lives you take, intentional or not – then it becomes easier to handle the consequences."

Finished with the current discussion, she pushed out the extra beef fillet dishes she ordered, towards Chouji. He gasped, and sent her a questioning look. She only responded with a wink.

"Chouji! Did you secretly order these without us knowing?!" Ino accused, flicking her hair out of her face.

Shikamaru was silent as his brain worked to figure out Akiko's words.

"Now, now." Akiko said, scratching the back of her head. "No arguing during lunch."

Akiko clapped her hands together and grinned widely.

"Let us eat!"


Akiko and Team 10's meal was filled with light chatter, mainly the older kunoichi recalling funny stories or telling them about missions that wouldn't put her in trouble, and great food.

When it came to paying the bill, Akiko had moved to take her purse but was surprised to find herself constricted by dark shadows emitting from the boy opposite her. She had raised a questioning brow, when Shikamaru had informed her she wouldn't be paying, even if she had ordered the extra dishes for Chouji. But she simply smirked at their antics before allowing a small current of lightning spread across her skin, breaking the shadow jutsu.

In the end she paid, giving a tip to their blushing waiter, and the four made their way outside of the restaurant.

"I enjoyed the meal, you kids are good company." Akiko said kindly. They seemed more relaxed in her presence now.

"Maybe we can do this tomorrow, since Asuma-sensei will be released from the hospital by then?" Chouji offered. Ino nodded her agreement enthusiastically, while Shikamaru shoved his hands into his pockets.

Akiko smiled apologetically. "I'm actually leaving tonight."

"What, already?!"

"Are you going back home, Akiko-sama?"

"Hm, there's something I need to deal with before I make my way back to Kumo."

Shikamaru sent her a knowing look. "Are you going to deal with those two Akatsuki?" Ino and Chouji stared worriedly at her.

Akiko simply raised her chin. "Don't worry about it." The edge of her eyes crinkle as she grins at the young Chuunin. "I'll be heading off now, there's one more person I need to see before I leave."

She was startled when thin arms wrapped around her, and she nearly had a mouthful of platinum blond hair. The younger kunoichi squeezed her tightly, thanking her for saving her sensei. Akiko returned the embrace, before being released.

She moved to pay Chouji on the back, and promised that if he ever found himself in Kumo she would happily take him to her favourite seafood restaurant. Even if she had to pay again.

"I'll walk with you." Shikamaru announced, rather than offered, when she moved to say goodbye to him.

Akiko acquiesced, waving at Ino and Chouji as she walked through Konoha with Shikamaru trailing next to her.

When she had informed Shikamaru who she wanted to see, he didn't seem surprised and simply nodded. They walked in relative silence; Akiko watching over the village attractions, while Shikamaru remained impassive.

"Sakura usually goes to visit him around this time, so we'll catch her outside the hospital. She'll be able to take you to him."

As they neared the hospital, Akiko could see the pink-haired kunoichi standing outside holding a basket. Next to her was the palest kid she'd ever laid eyes on, and from where she was she could already see the forced smile on his face. Before she could call out to Sakura, Shikamaru tugged on her sleeve, forcing her to stop.

Turning her head, her long her brushing along her back, she sent him a questioning look.

"The important person we protect," The young shinobi started. "Is it our comrades?"

Akiko chuckled, shaking her head slightly. He was finally starting to grasp the concept Asuma planted in his mind, and she had watered to sprout. But he still wasn't quite there.

"You tell me." She responded blankly, causing Shikamaru to scrunch his features in irritation. "When I found you and the others, I was with my own team. They're barely a year or two older than you. Being with them and facing off against Akatsuki, forced me to make a decision. I chose to save you all, rather than my greatest comrade; a kunoichi I considered my sister, Yugito is her name."

Shikamaru listened attentively.

"If the situation was reversed, I would raise hell had Yugito abandoned everyone just for me." Akiko waved down Sakura's attention. "Now I will be going to finish what Yugito first started."

When she moved towards Sakura, Shikamaru called out to her.

"Take me with you! I...for Asuma…we need re-"

"No." She cut him off, already knowing what he was about to say. "You're a genius, Shikamaru, or so I've been told. Figure it out. This isn't about revenge."


Sakura had agreed to take Akiko, although she seemed to want to question why, she remained silent. The pale boy had introduced himself as Sai, and attempted to engage in awkward small talk.

Moving through one of Konoha's many forests, a clearing came into view. There was a large waterfall, surrounded by trees, and the grass had multiple craters.

A gasp left Akiko's parted lips as she took in the sight of Kakashi wielding the Rasengan and Naruto forming a jutsu that emitted a painful screeching sound. She didn't know what to think as she watched them run towards each other, and as the two powers collided, the noise intensified and a bright light blinded surrounded the area.

Shielding her eyes, she moved her arm once the light dissipated. Naruto stood in disbelief, while Akiko was in shock at the sight of Kakashi on his knees, gripping his wounded hand.

'That jutsu…' She thought to herself. 'What was that?'

"Naruto! Kakashi-sensei!" The sound of Sakura's shout brought Akiko out of her thoughts. The pink-haired kunoichi and Sai had run towards their team members, the former already checking over Kakashi's arm.

Akiko hadn't seen Kakashi since the night of her arrival in Konoha, simply because she had much more important things than to deal with her love life. Or lack thereof.

She wasn't actively searching for him, but she knew he was training Naruto, and she didn't want to interrupt them. Although, truthfully, she wished she had sought them out earlier so she'd at least had any idea what jutsu she had just witnessed.

She flickered in front of Kakashi. Standing over him, he raised his head to stare at her. "Are you alright?" She asked. The tone in her voice was insincere, but her golden eyes spoke unsaid words.

Kakashi barely managed a nod, waving off Sakura, and standing up. He was almost a whole head taller than Akiko.

"AKIKO NEE-CHAN?! IS THAT YOU?!"

Turning around at Naruto's scream, Akiko grinned widely at the yellow-haired loud mouth. "Naruto, you're still loud."

It had been a few years since Akiko had seen Uzumaki Naruto, and as he sprinted up to her she had noticed he'd gotten a bit taller, and a bit more distinguished. He crashed into her, and Akiko dug her heels into the earth as she gripped his arms, laughing. He moved away to stare in disbelief, while she offered a sheepish smile.

"What are you doing here?!"

Judging from his outburst, Naruto most likely hadn't been informed of the recent events that had occurred. Or even her arrival in Konoha. She didn't particularly feel like being the one to explain everything to him.

Akiko reached a hand out to ruffle his hair. "I was only passing through the village." It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the complete truth either. "I'm leaving tonight."

"Aw man." Naruto whined. "Ero-Sennin's currently outta town, so I've been training with Kakashi-sensei. Wanna see my new jutsu?!"

She wasn't given a chance to reply, as he summoned two shadow clones. Akiko felt Kakashi move next to her, while Naruto attempted to form his new jutsu.

"I gotta say…" Seeing Kakashi grin, deeply unnerved Akiko. "I'm really starting to like you!"

Akiko felt sweat drop from the side of her face, as Naruto turned a deathly white at Kakashi's confession. 'He could've said something like that to me, all those years ago,' She grumbled to herself.

Naruto was pushed back has his jutsu dissipated, landing on the ground unceremoniously as his two clones disappeared on impact.

"Don't say weird stuff like that, you freak! Especially in front of Akiko nee-chan!" He screeched, pointing a finger at the silver-haired Jounin. "I finally got the technique and your creepy-talk threw me off!"

Kakashi took a step towards his student, who only shuffled back in horror. "I didn't mean it like that!"

"Back off!"

Naruto's cries did nothing to hinder Kakashi. Akiko watched comically as they moved around the clearing. She couldn't help but smile.

'Naruto…you haven't changed at all.'


Spending a few moments with Naruto, had been refreshing. It refocused her. It promised that what she was about to do, was more than just on her own volition.

Crouched on top of the wall near Konoha's entrance gate, her body was concealed but she could see everything. Tilting her head, she stared at the moon and the thin clouds that brushed past it. Though it was dark, it was early hours of the morning, right before the sun would rise.

Cool wind nicked at her exposed thighs and chest from the slits of her kimono and its low-cut neck line. She'd been here for the past ten minutes, waiting.

A figure joined her on the wall. He wasn't who she was waiting for.

"I remember the night I first saw you watching the clouds."

She always wondered how his voice remained clear though his mouth was covered by that damn mask, his words were never muffled. At her lack of reply, he glanced at her from the corner of his uncovered eye.

"You're really going after them?"

"Yes."

He always held a nonchalant attitude, countless of times had she deemed him a cocky bastard. But she could tell tonight, in his demeanour, that he wasn't pleased with her going to face Akatsuki alone. She didn't think his opinion was justified enough for her to take into consideration.

"Akiko…" At his tone, she forced herself to look at him but was easily distracted by the sight of three figures walking out of the entrance. She raised a finger to hush him, before leaping off the wall.

She landed inconspicuously. They didn't sense her presence.

"Are you ready?" The feminine voice asked.

"Let's go, Shikamaru."

Their faces were illuminated by the flame of what Akiko assumed to be Asuma's lighter.

"Yeah." Was dark-haired teen's response as he killed the flame.

Akiko's low chuckle halted them in their steps. They turned around swiftly, taking in the sight of her crossed arms and darkened expression.

"And where the hell are you three going?"

"Akiko-sama!" Ino gasped.

"You should've been out of the gates twenty minutes ago."

Akiko evened Shikamaru with a glare. "I decided to wait a bit, and look what I found. It's much too late for you three to be out, don't you think?" She asked sarcastically. "Go home."

"No." The refusal came from Chouji.

"I won't repeat myself."

"We have to do this, Akiko-sama."

"Do what?" A new voice asked.

Shifting her gaze from the young Leaf-nin, Akiko came face to face with the scowling Hokage. Her hazel eyes were hardened, and her blond hair slightly unkempt.

"Godaime-sama!"

"Where are you going?" Tsunade questioned.

"The mission order is still on, right?" Akiko didn't know where Shikamaru's smart ass attitude had suddenly come from. "We formed a new team, and we are going to execute the mission alongside Akiko-sama."

"I will not allow for selfish actions!" The Hokage stormed towards them, but not before rounding on Akiko. "Did you set them up to this?"

"Of course not!" Akiko hissed. "I delayed my departure because I had a feeling they would pull something like this. Asuma had given me a warning."

Tsunade nodded once, before facing the Chuunin. "Shikamaru, I will have you join the new unit I form. Akiko is going ahead, but I will have you go after we come up with a solid plan."

"Just send some support later. Our team has already come up with a plan."

Akiko perked at the mention of him already devising a plan in such short time. This must be the genius planning Asuma told her about.

"Enough!" At Tsunade's raised voice, Akiko heard Ino gasp as she and Chouji faltered under the Hokage's glare. "Asuma is in the hospital recovering from fatal injuries. There are only three of you now."

"Akiko-sama is with us." Was Shikamaru's fast reply. This boy seemed to have an answer for everything, but Akiko wasn't appreciating him throwing her under the bus.

"You cannot expect the Hokage to allow three Chuunin to be under the care of a foreigner, Shikamaru," Akiko reprimanded, the look in Shikamaru's eyes agitated her.

"Are you planning on taking revenge?" Tsunade questioned seriously. "It's not like you. Do you want to die in vain?!"

"We are not that stupid. I have no intention to die… but…"

"But…what?"

Shikamaru sighed heavily.

"I don't want to give up without setting things straight…" He relit Asuma's lighter, the shadows of his face deepening. "I don't want to live a crappy life like that." Behind him, Chouji and Ino held similar expressions.

Akiko's frown deepened. She was beginning to think she could be to blame for them trying to leave. But if it meant they had finally realised the answer to her question…

"Grow up." Tsunade's voice cut through. "Death always haunts shinobi; the possibility of it, the aftermath of it. There are times when you can't accept a death. But, if you do not overcome it, then there is no future! You three are lucky, Akiko saved you – from witnessing death and facing it yourselves. Do not let this be for nothing!"

Shikamaru killed the flame again.

"We are grateful to Akiko-sama. But we must do this."

"Get real! There are only three of you, I cannot place you under Akiko's care. A unit should have four members-!"

"It's fine if there are four members, right?"

Akiko knew Kakashi could hear everything that was happening. It was only a matter of time before he intervened. From the corner of her golden eyes, she could see he was leaning against the poll casually.

"Huh?"

"Kakashi-sensei?"

"I will join as the captain of Team 10. How about that?" He proclaimed, shoving his hands in his pockets and moving towards them languidly.

"Kakashi, you…"

"Even if you try to stop them, they're still gonna go." Kakashi's gaze washed over Akiko, letting her know he recognised what she had done. "But if I go, I can supervise them…I will not allow them to go overboard."

Tsunade turned to stare at the Chuunin in front of her. It was hard to deny their newfound determination. They were finding themselves as shinobi, even Akiko couldn't find herself rejecting them.

The sun finally rose, and the dark sky was painted a fresh, clear blue. Fluffy white clouds floating above them. An epiphany.

The Hokage sighed in resignation. "I got it. Do as you like!"

Ino clapped her hands together, while Chouji raised his arms above his head in a shout. Shikamaru sent a satisfied smirk Akiko's way, and she shook her head at their antics. 'These kids…how does Asuma deal with them?'

"Kakashi-sensei, what about Naruto?" Shikamaru asked, in better and lighter spirits.

Kakashi raised his bandaged right arm, causing Ino to gasp. "Don't worry about him."

"I'm sure he doesn't need Kakashi at this point." Akiko added, sending her own smirk Kakashi's way.

"Heh, that Naruto…"

Kakashi stepped up to the Chuunin, hands on his hips as he addressed them. "Well, Team Asuma, let's go."

"Yeah!"

"All right!"

Akiko allowed them to trail ahead, deciding to linger behind. She turned to the worried Hokage, to leave her with reassuring departing words. "Between Kakashi and I, their safety is top priority. They'll be back in one piece, don't worry too much."

Tsunade gave her an appreciative look, before nodding her head once.

Akiko took it as her cue to leave, flickering behind the Leaf shinobi as they all shot off into the forest. It wasn't until they were half way near the Konoha border, that Akiko reached a hand out to slap the back of Shikamaru's head, earning a groan of pain.

"What shit were you trying to pull back there, Shikamaru?" She hissed to him, as Chouji chuckled at his best friend's pain. "Having a smart mouth and throwing me under the bus isn't going to get you far in life. Especially to Tsunade-sama!"

Shikamaru rubbed the back of his gingerly, but bowed his head in sheepish apology. Akiko leaned in closer to the young shinobi.

"But you figured out an answer, didn't you?" She whispered to him. At his nod, she sent him a proud look, patting him on the shoulder. "Then I'm glad you got your way to come on this mission, brat."

Behind them, a smiling Kakashi watched their interaction. 'She really acts like a mother now.'


A/N: hey guys it's been a hot minute, but thank you for reading, favouriting/following, reviewing! hope you all enjoyed this chap, i think we all know what's coming up. let me know your thoughts so far. appreciate y'all heaps!