Ayame sent clones throughout Konoha to collect all her recruits as she started to pack her things. She left a note for Kakashi on the kitchen table, since she wouldn't be back in a long time if their plan succeeds. She sighed heavily as she tucked her picture back into her bag. Her eyes closed shut as she breathed deeply. It was no time to get emotional so she quickly meditated putting her emotions of Itachi away. Naruto joined her as she walked towards the gate. He was very energetic and talkative. Ayame was thankful for that, it kept her mind preoccupied. However, she did deviate from their path. Naruto kept walking for a little bit but soon stopped, rushing towards Ayame. He yelled at her for leaving him and then asked where they were going. However he soon feel silent when he saw that they were in front of Konoha's memorial site. She brushed her fingers against a name that was carved into the stone. Her head fell onto the memorial and her eyes closed. She took a few minutes before saying, "Daddy, please help me to succeed in my mission today and please help me to deal with Itachi," She mouthed the last part so that Naruto wouldn't be able to hear.

"Father's name is on that thing?" Naruto asked after they left the site.

"He did die protecting Konoha." Ayame said and Naruto dropped his head down looking at his feet as he walked. He was sad and yet mad at the same time for so much had been taken away from him and he didn't even realize how much until Ayame showed up. It was all because of the creature that lived inside of him. The same creatures that Naruto willingly let take over his body, sometimes. It was Kyuubi's fault that many people lost their lives and that he had no family for fifteen years. Yet people blamed him well until recently. Ayame as if she heard Naruto's thoughts placed her arm around his shoulder and then grabbed him in a headlock.

"Gotcha," She was trying to lighten his mood as he did with her. After Naruto did some begging she let him go, "Don't get so down on the past. That's why it's the past we can't change it. However we can learn from it and focus on now, like how we're going to get Sasuke back. If it helps any I don't harbor any ill feelings about dad's death, he chose it not you or Kyuubi's. Alright?"

Ayame looked for some reassurance from Naruto and he gave it to her in one word, "Yeah."

When they finally reached the gates all the other recruits where their. Sakura ran to greet them. Shikamaru and Sai gazed at the clouds above, while Neji sat on a rock meditating. Ayame glanced at Neji and noticed that he opened his eyes ever so slightly but quickly shut them when he saw her looking at him. She placed her hand over her mouth trying to hide a smirk.

"Everybody's here, sis!" Naruto stated the obvious, which Ayame couldn't help but raise her eyebrows at Naruto, stating that she already knew that.

"Well let's starting head that way," Ayame pointed to the west of Konoha. "Sai I need you to draw up a hawk to watch from above but have him keep a low profile, also you're in the front. Neji I need you to take up the rear, just in case we have trouble." After she gave orders Sai was done with his hawk and it flow freely in the air high above them. Ayame then fell back behind Sai as they took off. Shikamaru was confused about why they were leaving so late, but he thought it would be wise not argue with her. She did seem to know what she was doing anyways. They jumped from tree after tree for about two hours until Ayame motioned Sai to stop at a small lake.

"We'll wait here," Ayame dropped her bag onto the ground. Sai went to call his hawk back but Ayame told him to let the hawk fly near them. Now Shikamaru was really suspicious about Ayame's tactics. She was giving anybody a chance to attack them; even Naruto must know this he thought to himself. He was about to say something when someone threw their arms around him from behind. Shikamaru turned to find Temari behind him followed by her brothers; Gaara and Konkuro. Naruto ran to greet Gaara while the others followed only Sai and Ayame stayed behind.

"What are you doing here? Don't you have a village to protect or something?" Naruto bombarded Gaara with questions as they entered the newly made camp.

"I got a letter from someone called Ayame asking to help with this mission." Gaara replied staring at Ayame and Sai, these people were new to him and he wasn't quiet sure what to make of them.

Ayame noticing her cue and walked towards Gaara with her hand outreached, "Thank you Kazekage Gaara for answering my message, I'm Ayame Kazama-Hatake."

"So you're the one that they talk about," Konkuro eyed her intriguingly.

"Talk about? What do THEY say," Ayame curious to see what was said about her behind Konoha's lines.

"Oh nothing just how powerful you are and that you were the only person Itachi Uchiha couldn't defeat, and stuff about that. Also that you were cute…but they didn't do you justice." Konkuro winked at her. Neji walked towards Konkuro with his fists in a ball, however Naruto got to him first by landing a huge punch across Konkuro's face. He landed a good couple thirty feet away from everyone. Neji relaxed a little as he noticed Ayame giggle at the scene.

Temari just rubbed her forehead; "I'm want to apologize in advance for anything that my brother might say or do in the future. He's…. let's just say he talks before he thinks."

"Don't worry about it, I find it funny actually. Well make yourself comfortable. I'll be back with some fish soon." Ayame chuckled as she left them staring at her awkwardly.

They all sat around a campfire, Naruto and Neji sat besides Ayame keeping Konkuro far away from her as possible. It has been a while since Temari last saw Shikamaru so they sat next to each other exchanging stories. Sakura was busy explaining to Sai why Konkuro's behavior was a disgrace. He couldn't quiet understand why it was so bad, for he seem to compliment Ayame.

"Ayame, what's your plan of attack?" Gaara asked trying to release the tensions that were building up between everyone, well except for Temari and Shikamaru they seem to be in their own little world.

"Oh, yeah…. well I was counting on plan A however…" Ayame's voiced trailed off as she thought of the fight. "I'm on plan B. I've sent out clones to track Sasuke. They are directing me to where he's going to be. So when we finally do meet him I want you all to-"

"Wait… what happened to plan A?" Sai asked.

"There were complications, that I didn't plan on?"

"So does that mean Itachi is back in the book?" Sai blurted out.

"Itachi!!!" Everyone shouted towards her.

"Thanks, Sai." Ayame sarcastically rolled her eyes and he gave her a questioning look. He didn't quite understand his mistake for he was still learning how to talk to people, god emotions were just too difficult to understand but Sakura walked him through this one. "Yeah, Itachi was going to help us. However it didn't quiet work out, so I moved on to plan B. Ok, so now when we find Sasuke I want-"

"Oh no you're not getting out of this one that easy," Naruto leaned in forward. "He is the reason we are here so why would he want to help us?"

Ayame realized that she was trapped for everyone even Sai now was staring at her, waiting for her answer. "Oh well… we use to be really good friends and he owed me a favor, let's leave it at that, alright now moving on."

"No, there's more I know it. So spill it!" Naruto demanded.

"SHUT UP Naruto! I don't want to talk about it ok, it's nothing to worry about. It's over alright!" Ayame blurted out towering over Naruto. He never saw her this mad and everyone seem to cower away from her. Then she just disappeared into thin air. Naruto had to wipe his eyes and ask others if they saw what he saw. Of course they all had and they realized that they hit a sore spot for Ayame. So all of them promised to never mention it again, however when it was Neji's turn to promise they couldn't find him.

Ayame paced in a small are of the forest, not to far from the camp. She had to get away, but yet she felt sorry for blowing up on Naruto. He didn't know what had happened but yet he couldn't get the hit while everyone else seem to. Why did he have to probe… yet there was another thing that reminder her of her father. From the stories that Kakashi told her he would probe him about silly little things but he seem to calm down after a while. Then she couldn't imagine her dad and Naruto both on her case, which would be unbearable. She smirked at the thought but then Neji appeared from the shadows.

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly.

"I will be," She replied slowly.

"You're lying," Neji pointed out.

"What now the Hyuuga clan can read minds," She tried to joke but he met her with serious eyes.

"No, but I know how to lie to yourself. I use to do before I befriended Naruto." Neji took a seat next to her. "What happened between you and Itachi? I saw him enter your room the night before we left."

"You were spying on me?" She raised one eyebrow and lowered her head a little.

"No…no… I was just…worried." He mumbled and Ayame shot him a question glance.

"Why?"

"Because you looked like hell when I met you earlier that day, so I kind of asked Naruto to talk to you." Neji could feel her looking at him but he didn't dare to look into her eyes.

"You're right something did happen between us." Ayame let out a sigh as she continued. "We got into a fight over this mission. He told me that if I intervene he would have to fight me. I told him that I made a promise to Naruto, so I couldn't back out. I guess it was coming, reality had to hit sometime." Ayame paused staring at the moon. "I guess it was never meant to be. He's part of Akatsuki whose main goal is to gather all the bijuu. It would never have worked since Naruto and I are Jinchuurki." She fell silent and couldn't believe that she was telling this to Neji. He was always quiet around her but she did find a comfort in confiding in him.

"You love him don't you?" Neji asked. He didn't want to know this answer but he had to ask her.

"Yeah," She replied remember all the times that she wished she was with Itachi instead of Kabuto when she was younger.

"I'm still trying to believe that Itachi has emotions, such as you describe. However, it took me a while to adapt to new emotions. Give him time." Neji tried to be supportive and that part showed through to Ayame. However he felt a little twinge of hate towards Itachi. New emotions, 'Oh yeah', he was exploring them right now with Ayame.

Ayame smiled and kissed Neji on the cheek, "Thanks so much," She left him with pink tints on his cheeks.