Fallacy

Chapter Ten

-Operation: Rescue the Damsel-

A few days later Akito was called into the Hokage's office. It was one of the few days in which Naruto had decided to work, saying that Akito needed to take a break every once in a while. He was going to go and surprise Natsumi, but it appeared that wasn't an option anymore. Great.

When he opened the door to the office, he became confused. Standing next to the blonde was his father, and in a line in front of the Hokage's desk were Taka, Haru, Satomi, and Natsumi. He stopped when he was next to the pink haired woman. "What's going on?" he asked, dreading that he and Natsumi had been found out, and that this was like a miniature trial.

"I have gathered you all here because something terrible has happened." Naruto announced. Everyone gave him confused and slightly alarmed look. He took a deep breath, preparing to tell them the bad news. "It appears as though my daughter, Minako, has been kidnapped by a group of rogue ninjas. I need you all to find her, kill the rogues, and bring her back. Can you do that?" he asked, looking at the group.

Natsumi went wide eyed and Satomi had a confused look on her face. "How did she get kidnapped?"

"We're not entirely sure. All we know is that she was outside the village in a nearby field of wildflowers, since that's where her forehead protector was found." He said, lifting it up to show them.

"When was she taken?" Akito asked.

"Sometime this morning. If you hurry you may be able to catch them before they do anything to her." Naruto's fist clenched as he thought about all the horrible things that they could do to his baby girl.

Natsumi rolled her eyes and waved off the blonde. "Relax Uncle Naruto. They don't rape on the run. Jeez. She's not drop dead gorgeous where you'd like instantly get a boner looking at her and need to just pound it in."

"Natsumi…" Satomi sighed. "Shut up."

"What? It's true!"

"Just go find her. Akito, you're Team Leader." Naruto said.

The young Uchiha nodded. "Right. Let's go." He ordered, walking out the door. Suddenly something was gripping his arm, and he stiffened, looking down to see none other than Taka.

"Isn't this great baby? We get to go on a mission together, just like old times when we were on the same Anbu squad!" she said, laying her head on his shoulder as they made their way down the hall and towards the steps.

"Taka, this is a mission, and I am the leader. As such, you will conduct yourself in a professional manner. Is that clear?" he asked, his voice cold. How could she act like this when one of his best friends was in trouble? Especially in front of everyone else.

Natsumi just rolled her eyes and walked ahead of the group. Haru caught up with her, "I can track her pretty fast, if I get the scent with Hasuki you could speed ahead with him." He suggested.

"Sounds perfect to me. It shouldn't take too long then."

Akito's eyes narrowed as he overheard their conversation. Sure, it was a sound plan, but they shouldn't be making it on their own. He was the leader, and as such, they should be asking him for permission. It showed respect, something Akito had always valued, even more so now that he was going to become the seventh fire shadow.

"We will first travel to the location of Minako's kidnapping for Hasuki to get the scent. Then we will travel as a group to find the rogues." He announced as they neared the gates of the village.

Natsumi stopped and looked back at him. "Why would we waste time going there? Get something that smells like her and follow the scent where it goes, it'll save us a whole step."

Wordlessly Akito tossed Minako's forehead protector, which he had gotten from Naruto before leaving, to Haru, who caught it effortlessly. "Then get the scent and let's go." He said somewhat tersely, walking past Natsumi without so much as glancing at her, leading everyone to the village gates.

Natsumi stared after him, looking slightly peeved herself and followed after him. Haru sighed and offered the headband down to his husky. Satomi went beside him and met his deep blue gaze. "This will end badly."

"Most likely." Haru sighed. Taka just smiled to herself as she observed the two. To her, this was a good thing, because now she didn't have to worry about the pink haired princess trying to move in on what wasn't hers.

"Do you have it yet?" Akito asked, directing the question to Haru.

Haru looked up and then back to Hasuki who was sniffing around the ground. Then he took off through the gates, barking loudly for his master to follow. Natsumi took off after him, keeping pace easily. Satomi and Haru went after her, not wanting to lose sight of the dog. Akito activated his sharingan and used his speed to easily catch up with Natsumi, and Taka brought up the rear.

Natsumi glanced beside her and sighed. "What's wrong?"

"There is nothing wrong." He said, glancing at her with his red eyes that appeared devoid of emotion before looking ahead once more.

"I'm not stupid Akito nor am I blind I can tell your upset."

"And yet you can't figure out why." He smirked humorlessly, looking at her once more. "Ironic."

She actually looked taken back and then glared angrily at him. "Why are you acting this way? You're being a jerk."

"It's not important. Just focus on the mission." He ordered, looking ahead once more.

"Fine." She frowned, running ahead of him and keeping pace with Hasuki. "Come on boy!" she smiled, sounding playful towards the dog. "Let's go find Minako! Pick up the pace." And with that the dog took off, running faster. Akito just glared after her and went faster. Didn't she know that running ahead like that could get her killed? She was setting herself up to be the perfect target.

The group headed off into the woods then, taking to the trees. They traveled for a while before Satomi let out a sigh and called ahead. "Natsumi slow down. You don't need to be so ahead."

The younger twin rolled her eyes, not really caring that she was far ahead. It's not like she couldn't take care of herself. She glanced off to the side and smirked. She could feel them and they were coming fast. She jumped ahead and latched onto a tree branch, flipping around it just as a rogue landed on the branch she'd been and swung around kicking him off.

Hasuki started barking loudly and then the rest filed into view. One of the bigger ones was holding an unconscious woman over his shoulder. It was hard to tell because her face was covered with her hair, but it was obviously Minako. Akito landed on a branch in front of the rogues, and everyone else behind him.

"Hand over the girl and your deaths will be swift." He said, his sharingan beginning to swirl in his anger.

They all laughed and the one holding her pat her behind, rubbing it slightly. "Nah. I think we'll keep her. These innocents are just so adorable when you take their virginity. Their screams are just so amazing." She chuckled, kissing her side.

"God you're disgusting." Natsumi spat out, jumping forward and aiming a glowing green jab for him. He dodged out of the way and suddenly all the rogue leapt into action. Satomi pulled her fist back and punched one square in the jaw hear the bone shatter upon impact. She hurried over to her sister. Natsumi slammed her palm into the bulky man's stomach, forcing him to drop his cargo.

Satomi slid along the grass and grabbed Minako before she could hit the floor and tapped her face to try and rouse her. "Minako wake up." She ordered, holding the ebony haired girl's head and allowing her healing to hand to try and awaken her from her unconscious state.

Her eyes fluttered a bit, until they opened, a little foggy from being unconscious. "Satomi-chan? Where am I?"

"You're in the forest. Some men took you. Are you ok? Are you dizzy or nauseous?" she asked, studying her face. There was no sign of bruising or any cuts on her body, so she must have been knocked unconscious with a genjutsu.

"I'm fine." She looked up to the trees and saw everyone else fighting the rogues. "I should help." She said, moving to get up. Satomi kept her down.

"No it's ok. Just relax and try to remember what happened. You don't need to fight Akito, Natsumi, Haru, and Taka can handle it."

"Ok." She said, trusting her friend.

Up in the trees, Akito slit the throat of the man he had been fighting, moving on to another one quickly. They were pretty formidable for rogues, but he was glad for this. They were an easy way to get rid of all the anger he had been feeling about being disrespected in such a way. He didn't know why he was so upset about it, since Haru never respected him. Perhaps it was because Natsumi had gone against him since the start of the mission, doing her own thing. He knew she was a respected Anbu leader in Suna, but he had been one once as well. And for some reason, out of everyone, he had wanted her respect the most. It meant a lot more to him than anyone else's.

He ducked, successfully dodging a rogue kunai that was headed for his skull, before engaging in a taijutsu battle with his opponent.

Haru and Taka moved back to back, both having kunai drawn. "This kinda sucks." Haru sighed.

Taka nodded. "Well it's definitely more difficult than I would have hoped." They broke away then, taking on their own opponents. Haru and Hasuki worked flawlessly together taking down their enemies with claws and fangs. But there were a lot more than first presumed. Haru flipped back, narrowly avoiding a kick aimed for his chest. He glanced over and went wide eyed when a ninja jumped from the trees with a sword aimed straight down on Taka.

"Taka! Watch out!" he yelled. The girl looked up and went wide eyed, but there was no way she would be able to move fast enough to avoid it. Suddenly she felt herself hit, but not by the blade, from the side. Natsumi tackled Taka to the ground and stayed over her protectively as the sand rose around them and formed a barrier that the metal ricocheted off of.

"Are you ok?" she asked, staring down at Taka, concern the only thing swimming in her eyes.

"Yes, thank you." She said, standing and drawing another kunai, since her earlier one had been knocked from her grasp.

Natsumi stood as well and looked around at the remaining ninja. There were still quite a few and Satomi was taking care of Minako and making sure she was out of harm's way. She searched around until she finally locked her eyes on Akito. He was at the moment taking care of two rogues, not having any trouble with them at. He flipped down to the forest floor and engaged three more. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw another one shoot out a kunai like weapon that was attached to a chin straight for his back.

"No! Akito!" she screamed, running faster than she ever had in her life. Akito shifted and turned around slightly, just in time to see the oddly shaped kunai run straight through her hip and latch into place.

His eyes widened, and a look of pure horror came to his face as his red eyes locked with her green ones. "No!" he shouted in shock.

"Natsumi!" Satomi shrieked.

The man smirked and jerked the chain back, pulling Natsumi towards him almost like a rag doll. Pain shout through her body and then the ninja jerked one last time, flinging her through the air. And when she flew back far enough, the force ripped the kunai right back out of her body, making her scream out in pure agony.

She hit the forest floor which she noticed was moist and slid too far. She gasped and tried to grab onto the ledge of the cliff that was nearly invisible between the trees. She hadn't noticed it before and was trying to cling with all her might to the grass. A throbbing ache tore through out her pelvis and abdomen and then the grass ripped causing her to fall down the steep cliff and towards the bright blue river down below.

"Natsumi!" Punching the man in his way, Akito ran with all of the speed he could muster and dove off the cliff, pointing his arms like an arrow so that he could reach Natsumi before she hit the water. When he was close enough, he grabbed her outstretched hand and pulled her to him, wrapping his body around hers protectively right before they made impact.

The rough water tossed them around a bit, but Akito held fast to her. They would need air soon and he could feel how tense she was in his grasp, and suddenly he remembered she didn't like water. He kicked hard and finally they both gasped for air when they broke the surface. "What are you doing! Jumping off a cliff like that is crazy!" she yelled, since there was now a loud roaring that was only getting louder.

"I was saving you!" he replied. "You scared the hell out of me!"

"What?" she blew up slightly. "All you've been is mean to me this whole trip!" she had to shout now. What on earth was making that noise?

"Because you made me angry!" he yelled louder, wondering why the current had picked up slightly, dragging them along faster.

"How on earth could I have made you angry? I didn't do anything!"

"You blatantly disrespected me! That's what you did!"

"Blatantly disrespected you?" she screamed. "How did I blatantly disrespect you? You crazy man! And what the hell is the noise!" she finally snapped and looked around the best she could since he still had his arms wrapped tightly around her.

"Like I would know!" he said, exasperated. He looked around, and then suddenly his eyes widened when he saw what it was. "It's a fucking huge waterfall!" he shouted. She followed his gaze and gasped loudly, both of them screaming their lungs off as they went over the edge. They spun a bit in the air, and Akito twisted them to his advantage so that he would land on his feet on top of the water using his chakra. When he hit, he grimaced at the pain of the impact, but kept his grip on Natsumi so that she wouldn't fall into the water.

He straightened, and then walked over to the shore, where it was quieter. He laid her down on the ground before lying next to her, since his ankles hurt from what he had done. "You are vexing." He sighed, looking up at the sky.

"You're mean for no reason." She huffed and then winced since the action caused her would to upset. She pressed her hand against the open gash and tried to focus her chakra. She was still slightly disoriented from the fall and she hated being dripping wet.

"I told you my reason, and it is extremely valid." He said, looking at her. He glanced at her wound before looking to her face. "You shouldn't have taken the hit for me." He said, his voice softer now.

"If I hadn't it would have been you who was hurt and I couldn't live with that." She said simply, her hand beginning to glow a soft green and slowly healing and threading back the flesh.

"Why not?"

She sighed, "Man you're really stupid sometimes." She turned her head to the side and met his gaze. "I've been trying to tell you that I'm in love with you for the past week now. But something stupid always interrupts me. Like Haru, or my sister, or the chipmunk you found so absolutely fascinating yesterday. He was just eating a nut Akito! Jeez." She pouted.

"But he looked so cute with his puffy little cheeks." He pouted, crossing his arms.

She glared at him. "Ugh! I just told you that I love you and all you can talk about is that damned chipmunk!" she exclaimed, frustrated.

Before she could get any more upset, Akito was over her, looking down at her seriously. "You really love me? Me as a person?"

She blinked and stared up to him slightly shocked, but then her glare returned. "No you as a bean stalk, of course you as a person you idiot!" she snapped, sticking her tongue out at him. "Damn you're infuriating."

"Nobody has ever told me that before and meant it." he whispered, the corner of his mouth tilting up slightly. He kissed her passionately then, reaching up with one of his hands to cup her face. "I'm in love with you as well." He said against her lips, kissing her once more. She just closed her eyes, kissing him back as much as she could, since she was still healing herself.

She had to admit, hearing him say it made it feel as if the world had been lifted off her shoulders. "I wish you didn't." she confessed, feeling a stray tear fall down her check. At his confused expression she attempted a smile. "It makes it so much harder now…that I love you and you love me too. That I will never get to be with you."

"I know." He wiped the tear from her cheek, smiling sadly. "But, as they say, better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all." He rested his forehead against hers.

"I wanna be with you though…" she cried now, unable to stop the flow.

He frowned and got off of her, pulling her up into his lap so that he could hold her better. "As do I." he said softly, running his fingers through her hair. "I just…don't know how to go about accomplishing it."

She sighed and leaned into him, finally pulling her hand away from her completely healed flesh. "I don't know either but I do know one thing." She paused and looked up at him, meeting his beautiful gaze. "I want to have sex with you."

His eyes widened, startled by her sudden declaration. "You do? I mean, I know you do…but…really?" he asked, sounding like an idiot. He was just so happy, because that meant that she would forever be his, and he hers, since they would be the other's first, something that neither of their fiancés were going to get.

She nodded. "Yes. I know what you mean too. I mean I've wanted to fuck you for like ever, but I want you to come to my room and make love to me and stay with me." She smiled sadly. "Even if it's just for a little while, I want to be loved by you and I want the man I'm in love with to have my prize. I mean you jumped off a cliff for me."

"You took a kunai for me." He said, smiling at her slightly. "So, when do you want me to come by?"

"Why don't you just surprise me Hokage-sama." She purred, stroking his face lovingly. She sighed and pouted. "They're almost here.

"Yes." He sighed, feeling their group closing in on them as well. He kissed her once more. "I love you." He repeated, wanting to say it again before he wouldn't be able to.

"I love you too," she whispered longingly, gripping onto his shirt tightly. "You can still carry me…I'm weak from the fall." She smiled, not quite ready yet to be out of his hold.

"Devious." He smirked, standing just before everyone landed around them.

"Natsumi-chan, are you alright?" Minako asked, looking at the pink haired woman worriedly.

She nodded slowly, resting her head against Akito's chest and listening to his heartbeat. "Yes I'm alright. Just feeling a bit woozy and disoriented. We fell down the water fall." She gestured towards the falls. Haru and Satomi just rolled their eyes, not buying the act. Taka glared hatefully at her, but kept her mouth shut, not wanting to be yelled at again. There was only so much public humiliation a girl could take.

"Is everyone ready to head back?" Akito asked.

"Yes. All the other rogues are dead and Minako is safe." Satomi said with a bored tone.

"Then let's go." He said, leaping off towards home. It didn't take long for the group to arrive, and when they did, Minako went straight to report to her father. Haru went home with Hasuki, as did Taka, saying something about needing to tell her father she was back.

"Want me to take you back to your room?" Akito asked, looking down at the beauty in his arms.

She smiled happily. "Oh yes my night in shiny armor."

He smiled and they disappeared in a puff of smoke before reappearing in her bedroom. He set her down, kissing her thoroughly before she could move away from him. She nuzzled against him and enjoyed his warmth. "God I love you." She breathed out and reached around him, squeezing his perfect butt. "God I and love this ass."

He smiled, reaching around her and doing the same. "Likewise my love. Likewise."

"I'll miss you tonight." She whispered, walking her fingers up his chest.

He brushed some of her hair from her face. "Do not fret. I will come to claim you whenever I can. So, until then, await my arrival in anticipation." He said, somewhat giddily.

"That just means I have to go shopping tomorrow and wear something sexy to bed every night until you come and take me in these silk sheets." She snickered, kissing him once more before pulling out of his grasp.

"Sleep well my love, and dream of me." He said, letting go of her hand and disappearing.

She sighed, both content and sad. She readied for bed then, needing a shower to wash all the filth and dried blood from her body. It wasn't too much later that she was snuggled into her sheets and dreaming of her forbidden love and all the things he would do to her in this very bed.