I am an absolute FIEND with these chapters. I'm just shootin' em out!

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It only took us about a day and a half to reach Konoha. I was dead tired, reeeally hungry, and Chi hadn't shut up about how she was losing her concentration from lack of food.

So when we finally caught sight of the Konoha gates, I got a sudden burst of energy. Just behind those gates was a warm bath, lots of food, and a way to save Sasuke and Naruto.

Hey! We're almost there! Thank goodness! I was beginning to think that maybe I wouldn't be able to go on thanks to YOU, miss I-DON'T-WANT-TO-"WASTE FOOD"-SO-I'M-GONNA-MAKE-CHI-STARVE!

Would you stop your whining! You're not even human! You don't eat! If anyone should be complaining right now, it should be ME! I'm the one who had to use MY BODY to dash from one country to another in less than two days!

Now who's complaining...Hey, what's that?

Hn? What?

In the tree next to the West Gate. What is it? Looks like a person...

I glanced in the direction of the West Gate and quickly spotted a person standing in a tree, staring down at the village. Weird...You think they're a threat?

I don't think so. Look a little closer, I wanna see who it is.

Nosy. I'm not gonna go close to them! They might be an enemy! And I'm in no condition to fight anyone right now!

'Hey, Sakura. Who's that over there?' I asked, pointing to the West Gate. Sakura stopped on a tree branch and blinked a couple of times.

'I don't know, but they're wearing the Hyuuga clan crest on their arm.'

Hyuuga clan crest?

'You think it could be Hinata?'

Sakura squinted again. 'Nah, I don't think so. That person's alot taller than Hinata, and they have broad shoulders. It's probably a guy. They're wearing a Konoha headband, too...but that's weird...I don't know of any other Hyuuga ninjas except for Hinata and Neji.'

The memories came flooding back at the mention of the male Hyuuga. Gosh, I almost forgot about Neji. What did you nickname him again?

Hmm...Lemme see if I remember...Oh yes, I recall that it was something along the lines of...THE AMAZING HYUUGA!

No need to yell it!

'They have long hair like Neji, too,' said Sakura. 'Let's go closer.'

We crept through the trees, keeping a steady eye on the Hyuuga next to the West Gate. Finally I was close enough to see the face clearly, and I gasped. It IS Hyuuga!

'Hey! You! What makes you think it's okay to completely disappear for a year?! We thought you were dead!' I yelled, hopping up the tree branches to where he stood. He looked down at me. But as I hopped onto a branch that temporarily obscured my view of him, he disappeared into thin air. I heard Sakura gasp behind me.

'H-he just disappeared!'

I reached the branch where he had been standing. 'Obviously, he doesn't want to be found. Let's go into the village.'

Sakura nodded, obviously still shocked that someone could move that quick.

We walked up to the West Gate, where we were greeted by ANBU operatives immediately. One of them stepped forward. 'State your names and business.'

'Kikyo Zankichi and Sakura Haruno, returning from an undercover mission, with an urgent need to speak with Tsunade-sama.'

The rest of the operatives stepped forward. 'Welcome back, Zankichi-senpai, Haruno-senpai. Tsunade-sama has been expecting you. Please follow us.'

I exchanged glances with Sakura and laughed. 'We know our way around our own village, thanks!'

The ANBU operative was slightly embarassed. 'I-oh, yes, of course! I-I'm sorry...It's just a formality..'

As Sakura and I walked past him and into the village, I patted him on the shoulder. 'Don't worry about it, it's fine. At least we know you're doing your job!'

With that, I leapt off the ground and hopped onto the nearest building, Sakura directly behind me. We sped as fast as we could towards the Hokage's office. As soon as we reached the office, I jumped through an open window, landing on the floor directly in front of Tsunade's desk. 'Tsunade-sama-'

'Use the freaking door! You nearly gave me a heart attack!'

I blinked a couple of times. 'W-what?! B-but, Tsunade-'

'Go back out the window and walk through the front door like a freaking human being, eh?!'

'B-but-'

'Now, Kikyo! This is not a barn!'

I rolled my eyes. 'Difficult old woman!'

I hopped back out of the window and landed on the street below. Where's Sakura?

She used the door the first time around.

Frick.

I sighed and turned around, walking through the front door and up the steps leading to Tsunade's office. Then I opened the door and walked in. 'Okay, now can we-'

'Did you knock?' asked Tsunade, with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

'What?! You senile old bag, what are you talking about?!'

'It's only polite for you to knock before you enter a room.'

I heard Sakura snickering from the corner of the office. I shot her a dirty look and then walked back out of the office, slamming the door. I took a breath and knocked softly. No one answered. I checked the doorknob. Sakura had locked it behind me.

I knocked a little louder. No one answered.

I pounded lightly on the door.

Made a fist and pounded the door again.

I kicked the door repeatedly. What is it with doors?! I can't lock the door to my house, I can't close the door to my fridge, I can't open closet doors from the inside, and now I can't even KNOCK on a door?!

'Tsunade-baachan! I know you're in there, crazy hag! I know you're in there, too, Sakura!'

I heard giggling from the other side of the door. I thought I would go insane, but at that moment Shizune walked past and noticed me fuming by the locked door. 'Uh, Kikyo-chan?'

'What?! Oh...Hi, Shizune..'

'Do you, uh, need help?'

I stared at her, with fake tears pooling in my eyes. 'Make the stupid old lady open the door! Pleease, Shizune-nee-chan?'

She sighed and walked to the door, turning the doorknob. It opened immediately. I stared at it in shocked silence for a couple of seconds. 'How-'

Tsunade walked out of the office, laughing hysterically, with Sakura trailing behind her. 'Y-you're sucha dunce! You were turning the doorknob the wrong way! Pfffahahahaha!'

I noticed Shizune silently slip down the hallway and out of sight. 'You're a stupid, dirty old woman. Now can we PLEASE discuss how we're going to handle Sasuke and Naruto?'

'Ah, fine, fine. Step into the office, smart one.'

Stupid old gramma...

Yeah. Stupid old gramma who saved your life on more than one occasion.

I hold firm to my opinions. Stupid conscious...

Stupid human!

'Kikyo, what have you found out about Akatsuki?'

I glanced up at Tsunade, who was now sitting behind her desk. She had on her 'Hokage Face'.

'They didn't take Sasuke, on the contrary, they're willing to help us. Itachi Uchiha has been given permission by the Akatsuki leader to lead his group into battle alongside us. Group consists of : Kisame of the Hidden Mist Village, Itachi of Konohagakure, Zetsu of...well...wherever the hell Zetsu's from, and, up until a couple of days ago, another man named Tobi.'

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. 'I thought there was another member living in the home?'

'There is, but he will not be joining the battle. It is Deidara of the Hidden Rock Village.'

'Why is he not joining the battle?'

I thought for a moment. 'Circumstances. I believe that is all you need to know, Tsunade-sama.'

'And why is the man named Tobi not joining?'

'He betrayed the whereabouts of Sakura and I to Orochimaru. He sensed Sakura's arrival at the house and left ahead of time to warn Orochimaru. There is no doubt that they will now be awaiting our arrival, which is why we have to hurry. We don't know how long they'll keep Naruto alive.'

Sakura spoke up. 'Why are you only worried about Naruto? They've got Sasuke, too.'

I turned to face her. 'Orochimaru wants Sasuke alive. That is quite obvious. He would've killed him by now, and Sasuke's probably part of the reason why Naruto is still alive.'

'So what do you propose, Kikyo?' asked Tsunade.

'How many jounins can you spare?'

'I can give you Kakashi, Kurenai, and Gai.'

I scowled. 'Do we really have to take Gai? He's such a nuisance...'

'Would you rather take Lee?'

'It's the same thing!'

'Good, then it's decided. Kakashi, Kurenai, and Gai.'

I groaned. 'Fine, now what about chunins?'

'Shikamaru, Kiba, Hinata, Ino, and TenTen sound good?'

'Fine,' I said.

'Temari and Kankuro of the Sand Village have also agreed to fight with us,' said Sakura. 'Gaara cannot leave the village, being the Kazekage, but he feels as if he still owes something to Naruto.'

I nodded. 'Good. So, we have five jonins and five chunins. Including me, Sakura, and the Akatsuki members...that makes fifteen of us. It should be enough, with our experience combined.'

Tsunade fidgeted in her chair.

'What?' I said.

'There is someone else who can be of help to you,' she said carefully.

Now Sakura stood up and took her place beside me. 'Who?'

Tsunade looked behind us as the door opened. 'Come in.'

'Well, well, what have we here,' said an amazingly obnoxious voice from behind me and Sakura. I turned around quickly, my jet black hair flying wildly.

Smooth, obnoxious voice...It's...

'Neji freaking Hyuuga,' I groaned loudly.