Hello people, thought you would like another chapter, though brief it may be. I am really tired, so please excuse any spelling/grammar errors.

Disclaimer: Don't own Naruto. Or any Naruto Characters


Tsunade's back was turned to the group of jounin, her eyes wondering over the lush Konoha landscape from the window contemplating what should be done next. Her eyes reflected back at her staring solemnly with dark rings underneath and she let out a long drawn sigh. She had a feeling whatever news she would soon hear would be none too welcoming and so she mentally prepared herself for the worse.

"Report" her voice rang out and snapped the jounin away from their musings. They exchanged looks silently conveying the order from which they'll speak.

"Hokage-sama" Anko stepped forward, "The yin-yang twins come from Suna. Apparently they were tokebetsu jounins specializing in the elemental jutsus and dabbled in genjutsu. The most recent report concerning the two stated they were M.I.A. for two months; apparently they were hunting down two Akatsuki members for stealing a rare scroll. This rare scroll contained some forbidden jutsus written in a long dead language."

Tsunade nodded her head indicating that she heard Anko, "Anything else?"

"Well, the only way they could actually find some use in the scroll is if Akatsuki found a translator; however, the only one who could translate it would be a descendent of the Mikamura clan…they've long since disappeared."

Ibiki then stepped forward acknowledging his own turn when Anko slumped back against her chair, "Toya Kensho has been put through the most brutal mind jutsus we've ever devised but he has no recollection of the events that unfolded and when we entered his mind it only revealed to us a month prior to now and anything after that…there's nothing.

"He too was a strong jounin, and very loyal, from what we could gather, to his village." He paused for a moment, "We found something. The chakra around his frontal lobe was foreign, only a small trace of it was uncovered but we can't be certain who or what it belonged to, be it a medi-nin or someone else. I fear that he was being controlled." His face contorted into mild perplexity, "But that doesn't make sense, because a guy like him, who specializes in mind and body manipulation through his specialized mist, would hardly be affected by any sort of genjutsu penetration."

Kurenai looked at him, "What makes you sure that he wouldn't be affected Ibiki?"

"The mist he creates not only affects his enemy but himself as well. His body adapted to his technique and used the mist as an extra layer, and should anyone try to probe his mind, the jutsu would attack through the connected chakra and either kill the person or disable them enough to make an effective escape.

"I worked with him on a few joint missions shortly after the truce between Konoha and Mist was signed and he was phenomenal on the battle field." Ibiki shook his head, "It all points to some sort of mind-control, and if this is true then we have much to worry about Hokage-sama. If Akatsuki could control the foremost pioneer in cerebral manipulation, then just think of the possibilities."

A heavy silence covered the room as each individual weighed Ibiki's words. Many scenarios ran rampant in their minds and none of them were welcoming.

Tsunade turned around and began to walk towards her desk in slow, heavy strides,

"He was labeled M.I.A. in his own village." Tsunade didn't need any confirmation to know that was a yes and she continued on, "And now they have Sakura, Sasuke and Neji."

"Why?" Genma pondered.

"I think they're trying to get the Kyuubi…but why three?"

"Perhaps they're doing a more indirect approach?" Ibiki locked gazes with the Hokage, "They've already tried the direct approach two times on Naruto and Gaara, both of which failed. There's an old saying: fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me I think they've finally learned another approach is needed and whatever this approach is, it's through those three."

"His closest, most youthful friends" Gai nodded his head, "And if this mind control is truly what happened to Toya then it's a strong possibility it will be used on those three-"

"And if those three are under complete submission then Akatsuki could cater to Naruto's weak points and use them against him." Kurenai looked over towards Anko and silently exchanged solemn expressions.

"And Naruto will refuse to fight them." Anko scoffed, "Remember he wouldn't even fight the Uchiha brat even when on the brink of death? Could you imagine how he will be if he faces off against Sakura?"

"I don't care what we have to do but we must not allow Akatsuki to attain the Kyuubi." Ibiki challenged the Hokage, "Even if it means we have to kill three of our own."


Kakashi was in the least bit thrilled over his current situation. The odiferous sanitizers clung to the air in all their anti-bacterial glory while pristine white walls glared coldly at the bed-ridden shinobi. Grimacing, he tried shifting over to the side of the bed but found it difficult to even move his hand and forcefully he bit back a groan of displeasure.

He could clearly recall the fights he had and who he had them with…and that's what baffled him to no end, for he knew both of those men and had fought alongside them to know them well enough to discern their character, and their behavior was completely out of junction with the people he associated with a few years back.

His lone eye lazily gazed at the ceiling.

If only someone would come by. That would at least get my mind partially off from being in a hospital. He shuddered at the "H" word and painfully shook his head. Slowly, he allowed a contemplative sigh escape his parched lips.

I hope everyone is all right.

His gut lurched as the horrified scream from before echoed throughout his mind and he knew there was no denying that something went horribly wrong beyond the point of his own defeat and he feared for the worse.

In the small span of consciousness he fought to keep, he sewed up the final thread to hold in his cloudy guilt…He blamed himself for allowing the past get the best of him, for allowing acquaintances, whom he used to respect for their valor, contort him into some mindless weakling who went down faster than he could split lightning.

And as fast as lightning, he was out.


Naruto forcefully jumped away from an attack and quickly assaulted his assailant with kunai. The assailant was unable to dodge them and disappeared in a small puff of smoke.

Naruto landed a few feet away. His clothes were torn and small cuts covered his exposed flesh. Heavily breathing, he fell to his knees and punched the soft earth in immense frustration.

"I'm not strong enough!" Tears littered the ground but Naruto didn't care, all he wanted right now was Sakura back in his arms holding him tight while whispering sweet nothings. He longed for her gentle touch and her smile…Kami he missed her smile and the way her eyes lit up every time she laughed.

"Sakura."


Sakura walked down an empty hall. Her jade orbs boredly took in the surroundings as though they were unimpressive, and by all rights they were, but the eerie atmosphere that was pungent in animosity and hatred did in no way effect her in the least. Her boots clicked with every step and she frowned at the noise.

"Haruno." Sakura tilted her head to the side to acknowledge the male. For a moment she debated whether or not to talk to him but settled on a simple head nod.

The dark haired male then spoke, "We're heading out to Rain village tonight. Leader orders to leave only a handful alive for them to deliver the message."

"Whatever Neji, just tell Sasuke if he gets in my way from killing again, then I won't hesitate to castrate him."

Neji nodded but before he turned away he voiced a question that the kuniochi, herself, was mulling over,

"Sasuke is acting strange ne?" Not bothering to wait for a response from the indifferent kuniochi, he disappeared down the hall where his room was located.

Sakura turned into her room and sat on the bed. She wasn't tired in the least but today she didn't feel like associating with the rest of Akatsuki. For the most part, she found them annoying save for Neji and Sasuke…that is until recently. Sasuke had been acting strange and completely contradicted every command or plan she put forth.

Perhaps she should have a talk with leader? No, whatever phase he's going through she would straighten it out on her own.

She allowed herself to fall back onto the bed and proceeded to stare blankly at the ceiling. For some reason, she was hesitant to go to rain. It was too close to Konoha for her liking. Konoha was the village the three of them betrayed because of the scornful people and unappreciative family's they came from. Neji, in particular, despised his household and if you were to call him by his last name then he would hurt you to the brink of death.

But was that the real reason she felt uneasy? It felt like something more, a piece of the puzzle that just wouldn't fit. Something that felt empty.

Quickly she dismissed her menial musings and stood up to dress in her Akatsuki uniform.


A heavy wind was blowing the trio's cloaks in an irradic fashion and heavily the rain pelted upon them. Their clothes were soaked and the coldness that clung to them was numbing their nerves. The trio didn't acknowledge the cold nor the rain as they stood on a steep cliff overlooking the entire village.

The village had no one out in this weather but the lights shinning through their windows showed the warmth and abundance of life within. A few shinobi were standing guard at the gate of the village, but their posture and the way they jumped on the balls of their feet clearly showed their discomfort and how they were effected by the tumultuous storm.

The pink haired maiden looked over towards her boys and gave off a menacing smile, "It's time."

Lightning temporarily lit up the area and a Rain shinobi looked up at the cliff swearing to himself that he thought he saw something, but when his eyes saw nothing, he went back to pacing near the closed gate. A bang sounded a few moments later and the Rain shinobi from before turned around to witness another lightning bolt light up the sky, but his keen eyes landed on something else and went to pull out his shuriken only to feel cold steel slice cleanly through his neck.


Por qué Sakura? Por qué?! Was it Sakura who killed an innocent life or was it someone else?

I've been told I ask too many questions, so I won't ask anymore but tell me what you think by dropping a review!

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