Well guys here ya go and sorry about the constant slow updates but I promise that now since I put a Hiatus on my two other stories, the updates will be much quicker until the end

I believe I have 20 chapters to go. Whoohoo!

Enjoy!

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Sasuke laid on his bed looking up at the ceiling remembering his encounter with Team Kakashi. It had been over two and a half years since he had seen Naruto and Sakura but only about a year since he had seen Mika in the Land of Snow. He had to admit, he felt that Naruto had gotten stronger but not strong enough to bring him back to Konoha. Mika on the other hand could have killed him quite easily and he knew it. The only thing stopping her was Naruto's feelings.

'What is wrong with that loser? Mika gets it. Nothing will stop me from getting my revenge. So why does he keep trying?'

The Uchiha closed his eyes, 'And Mika. . . . She's become an outright monster. All that power and she chooses to live a normal life in that disgusting village and she's most likely still with that bastard, Subaku. They belong with each other. Monsters.'

But then he thought about how unfair he was being, 'So does that make Naruto a monster?. . . . No. He's too stupid and naïve to be anything close to what Mika is.'

He laid there in thought for a while longer.

(Flashback)

There was silence before Naruto finally shouted, "Don't you get it!? Orochimaru's going to steal your body, Sasuke!"

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Mika growled at him from below, "You're a fool, Uchiha. If you really think he's going to kill Itachi after he steals your body. That would be the last thing on his list after he gets what he wants."

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She got in her fight stance, ready to kick some ass in her black jumpsuit and red boots, "I'm going to kick these big red boots right up your ass, Uchiha!"

(End of Flashback)

Sasuke snorted uncharacteristically, 'Idiots. Do they really think I don't know what I'm doing? I'm not stupid like them.'

He smirked, 'Today will be the day.'

He got up and walked out of his room with his sword strapped on his back, ready to take his flight.

(Flashback)

Mika smirked before he left and shouted to him, "You were weak then. You're still weak now! You'll never defeat Itachi!"

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"You had two options, Uchiha!"

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"You're weak"

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"You were an idiot then and you're an idiot now"

(End of Flashbacks)

Sasuke stood in front of Orochimaru's door with a hand on the wood, feeling for exactly where the snake was.

He remembered Mika's blunt words.

'You're weak'

He opened his eyes with a sharp glare and his Chidori blasted through the door and hit his target.

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Mika couldn't sleep.

Why, you ask?

"SNORT- AAAAAGGGGGHHHKKKKKH!"

Her brother was snoring something awful and she couldn't even get a wink in.

With wrinkles under her eyes from the lack of sleep, she yawned, thinking of all the amazing ways she could have stopped him from snoring all night.

'I could have suffocated him with his own pillow. I could have suffocated him with a gag and nose plug. Damn I could have even just strangled the little bastard.'

But she knew she couldn't do that. It was illegal.

Finally, she just came to a conclusion, got up from her own bed and kicked him while he was in mid-snore, "Wake up ya loud little moron!"

Naruto snapped his eyes open and screamed, "Waaaaaaahhhhh! What the hell sis?!"

"You were snoring all night! I deserve the amusement!"

Naruto just pouted and she smirked tiredly, "Go make yourself some ramen, bro YAAAAWN it's morning"

Naruto yawned in chain reaction and hugged his pillow, "A'right." He slouched off his bed and dragged himself to the kitchen to make a cup ramen while Mika made some Sweet red bean soup for herself.

"You're addicted to that stuff" he muttered, "Gaara's fault"

Mika giggled, "Yeah well you're addicted to ramen. Iruka's fault."

"That doesn't even make sense"

She rolled her eyes at him, "You're a dork. Just eat"

"Meh" he slurped more noodle.

Silence passed between the two before a few knocks sounded at the door.

"Go get it, Naruto"

The blonde groaned, "Why do I have to get it?!"

Mika snarled with demonic eyes, "Get. The. Fucking. Door"

Naruto's eyes widened a bit, "Geez, alright. Somebody's not a morning person" he muttered.

Before she could scream at him, though, he bolted out of the kitchen to get the door with ramen in hand.

Mika took her bowl in her hands and slurped up the rest of it, 'Damn I need to get my own apartment. Better yet, I need to get laid. Sigh. Just a little while longer and I'll visit Suna. It's good to have a break every once in a while. . . . I wonder if that Matsuri bitch has tried anything.' She narrowed her eyes dangerously.

"Hey sis! It's Sakura! Come on! She says Granny wants to talk to all of us!"

Mika rolled her eyes, "Coming!"

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When they all reached the Hokage's office, Mika was surprised to see Jiraiya in there as well. Mika leaned over to her brother and whispered, "They're definitely screwing"

Naruto flinched back in horror, "Ugh! Mika! Why the hell would you say anything like that?!"

She smirked, "Because it's true"

Naruto shivered, "You really need to go see Gaara"

"Why?"

Sakura giggled, "Think about it, Mika"

"The more jokes you pun, the more it seems you feel jealous" Naruto muttered loud enough for her to hear.

Even Tsunade and Jiraiya had noticed their entrance and smirked knowingly at the conversation.

Mika finally understood and blanched at her Brother, "I thought you didn't like me being with him like that!?"

Naruto frowned, "I don't but he's my friend, too, so I guess he's better than anyone else I'd want you dating. But seriously if you don't stop with the constant sexual jokes, I'm going to force you go to Suna"

"Pft" she scoffed.

Tsunade sighed but smirked, "You guys done or what? We have very important news to discuss."

"News?" Mika asked, "Like what?"

"Well" Tsunade seemed unsure but closed her eyes, "We've received intel that Orochimaru is dead. It also seems that it was Sasuke Uchiha that killed him."

Everyone was in a stunned silence.

"WHAT?!" Mika broke the silence.

Naruto smiled wide, "Really?! Seriously?! Then! Then does this mean he's coming back home to Konoha?!"

Sakura seemed excited as well but Mika knew better.

Jiraiya proved her suspicions, "Unfortunately it doesn't seem like it."

Naruto suddenly grew angry, "What do you mean?! Orochimaru's gone! Why wouldn't he come?!"

Mika sighed angrily, "Itachi. His brother."

Naruto clenched his eyes tight, "That idiot"

Mika nodded in agreement, "Like I've said this whole time. Revenge is all he's thinking about now. He won't rest until he kills Itachi"

"Hey!" Naruto looked like he sprouted an idea, "Let's just form a cell and go find him! Operation track Akatsuki is still going on right? Well if we hunt down Itachi first, we'll definitely run into Sasuke eventually!"

'Wow' Mika thought and smiled, 'Didn't think he'd gotten so smart'

Tsunade gazed into Naruto's determined eyes, "Hm. So how do you all plan to go about it?"

Sakura spoke up, "Well if we capture maybe even one Akatsuki member then perhaps Master Ibiki can get some information out of them?"

Mika snorted, "Good luck with that. Those Akatsuki are tight lipped. Deidara wouldn't even give up the plans to tell me what the Akatsuki were planning to do with me. Not that he knew. It seems that not even the leader of the Akatsuki, whoever it may be, doesn't want his subordinates to know exactly what is to be planned."

Jiraiya nodded.

Kakashi poked himself in, "Mika's right. Besides, it would be way too risky to take any of them alive or intact."

Naruto was losing his temper, "Then what are we supposed to do?!"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow, "Keep searching until we run into Itachi?"

Mika snorted at him, "You said that like it was a question, sensei"

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

Jiraiya chuckled and crossed his arms, "Hunt Itachi to find Sasuke, huh, Naruto? Not actually a bad idea but what will you do when we finally do run into Itachi?"

"We'll need more cells, that's for sure" Kakashi pointed out.

"Wait, more cells?" Naruto asked and Mika nodded.

"We'll need as much back-up as we can, Naruto"

Sakura agreed, "If we take Itachi down, Sasuke will no longer have a motive, so we'll need to capture and keep Itachi alive. And for that, we need a lot more people, as opposed to if we were just eliminating him, right?"

"Correct" Kakashi praised, "Two cells should do, though. The more people you have, the greater the likeliness of being discovered."

Jiraiya went on, "And since live capture also requires more finesse than assassination, you want Shinobi who've worked missions together before to ensure smooth teamwork."

Kakashi smiled, "I thought you might say that. Therefore I've already summoned the ones I believe are best suited for this mission. Come on in, everyone!"

Mika sniffed and recognized the scent, 'Oh this is perfect.'

"I'll say, pup. Good thinking on Kakashi's part"

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Sasuke readied himself with his new teammates. Since he had killed Orochimaru, he figured that he'd need a team to find Itachi, getting information out of other Akatsuki. First he had went to get Suigetsu, a Shinobi that Orochimaru had experimented on to create a ninja that could fight underwater easily.

Then after an agreement, they had traveled to get Zabuza's sword from the Land of Waves. Soon after, they went to another one of Orochimaru's prisons to recruit Karin, the warden. Sasuke didn't like her and thought she reminded him of Sakura what with the constant flirting but he was willing to put up with her since she was a sensory type kunoichi.

And then there was Jugo. He was quiet but very dangerous. He was the one that the curse mark had originated from but if he lost control, Sasuke figured he can use his Sharingan to calm the big guy down.

All in all, really his new team reminded him of his old one. Karin was like Sakura. Suigetsu was like Naruto in a way with his comedic attitude and Jugo was almost like Mika in the sense that he didn't talk much but if threatened, he could be a menace.

He almost smiled at the thought but forced it down.

Now they had finished preparing themselves with Granny cat's help. They now all had new clothes, medicine and other supplies for the upcoming fights ahead.

It was now raining but he didn't care.

"Let's do it"

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It was raining around Konoha and Mika basked in the feeling, her white and red cloak getting soaked, "Ah it feels so good!"

Kakashi sighed, "Yeah but it's not too good of weather to go on a tracking mission"

Naruto seemed fired up and ready to go, "Alright! Let's do this!"

Kiba snorted, "Cool it down man."

"Such a dork" Okami laughed in her mind, "No wonder the Fox is so pissy all the time! Hahahah!"

Mika smirked at the group she was a part of. Now they had Kiba, Akamaru, Hinata, Shino, Yamato, Sai, Kakashi, Sakura, Naruto and her. They were ready and meant business. They were currently on top of a roof outside of Konoha, getting ready to move out.

Mika breathed in, "Well anyway, with a nose as great as mine, no amount of rain, sleet or even snow will block my path from a scent."

Kiba laughed, "Hahahah! It's no wonder you're not an Inuzuka, Mika!"

Kakashi brought their attention to him, "Alright, group. From here we'll use this as out center point to start and search a five km radius in all directions. If we don't find anything, we'll move the center point and search the next five km radius. Got it?"

Sakura furrowed her brow, "But sensei, if we spread out that far we won't be able to use the comm units! And it's too dangerous to split up! Rules dictate a minimum of two man cells for patrol. So that if an enemy is encountered"

Yamato stopped her, "Don't worry, Sakura"

Kakashi made a few hand signs and slapped his hand on the roof top's surface, "Summoning Jutsu!"

His nin hounds appeared and barked. One of them wagged its tail, "Our voices reach farther than any comm unit!"

Another smaller one yipped, "Plus, our noses can detect danger faster and we can assist you in battles!"

Mika smirked, "Alright then. Guess I should summon an old friend as well." She made a few signs and slapped her hand on the roof as well, "Summoning Jutsu!"

Smoke poofed around and a wolf pounced out, "Bark!"

"Toshi!" Mika voiced and the wolf spun around and laughed happily.

"Madam Uzumaki!" he bowed his head, "How can I be of assistance, my lady?"

Mika smiled and pat his head, "I need you to help us find Sasuke Uchiha. You remember him from a year ago in the Land of Snow? We'll be searching for him. I want you to help along with the other nin canines, alright? Please?"

Toshi blinked almost in irritation but nodded, "Anything for you, Mika"

Naruto laughed, "Aw! That's so cool! Is that really a wolf?!"

Mika nodded at her brother, "Yes. Naruto, this is Toshi, one of the guard wolves for the Red Storm Temple. He's in charge of keeping outsiders out of range of the Temple's entrance. Toshi, this is my twin brother, Naruto."

Toshi nodded to the boy, "Nice to meet you. Madam Uzumaki has told me much of you."

Naruto laughed.

Kiba pouted, "Hey I didn't know you could summon a wolf. Whatcha think Akamaru? Cool or what?"

Akamaru barked happily and bounded around Toshi in excitement. Toshi merely laughed in a bark and grinned in approval.

"Well looks like they're having fun up there"

Naruto glanced down and grinned, "Pakkun!"

Kakashi gathered their attention, "All right. Now let me explain the team rosters for our patrols. To be safe, I'm assigning each person two nin hounds."

Sakura was confused again, "Two? But there aren't that many"

Kakashi smiled, "Play nice"

Mika pat Toshi's head, "You're with me, Toshi, for sure"

"Bark!"

Naruto seemed confused though, "Well hey! What about me? Sakura's right. There's not enough"

Kakashi sighed, "You and Mika are Jinchuriki, targeted by the Akatsuki. To protect you guys, you'll both work together along with Yamato and the sensory scout, Hinata"

'Perfect' Mika giggled mentally but nodded.

Pakkun chuckled on Kakashi's shoulder, "Plus you'll have Big Bark Bull with you."

Hinata moved over with Naruto and Mika and Big Bark Bull came over to investigate Toshi. Hinata smiled at them, "G-good to work with you guys"

Naruto smiled warmly, "Yeah!"

Kakashi got their attention again, "And since Kiba and I are used to working with dogs, we'll just have one each. Pakkun with me and Akamaru with Kiba. Now listen up. Our first priority is finding and tracking Sasuke's scent. Then next is the Akatsuki. Either way, if you find someone, then confirm his or her location and return to this spot"

Everyone agreed and Kakashi waved his arm out.

They dispersed.

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Sasuke had a similar idea with his own teammates to find Itachi. He had dispersed them out to find information on where his brother was hiding.

Now he was all alone, though in an open field.

'I sense that someone else is here somewhere. It's not Karin. I sent her off and got rid of her to search. Perhaps an Akatsuki?'

He turned to confront the shadow in the trees, "Alright, enough shadowing. Show yourself. Now"

The person walked out from the shadows.

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Mika, Naruto, Hinata, Yamato, Toshi and Big Bark Bull were walking along a path to try and find any scent that led to some sort of lead.

Naruto and Yamato were a little ways more ahead, though, so she saw this as the perfect moment. Mika smirked and nudged Hinata.

"I know you like my brother, Hinata"

The girl blushed red, "Huh?! What w-what are you talking a-about?"

Mika grinned, "Hey it's alright" she laughed, "I totally approve. Besides, I think he likes you, too."

Hinata poked two fingers together in her nervousness, "Y-you think so? B-but what about Sa-sakura?"

The sexy red-head shook her head and sighed, 'Gah she's so unconfident!'

"You should definitely ask him out!"

"N-no! I couldn't!"

"Oh for the love of-! Just do something spontaneous for once, girl!"

Hinata squeaked, "Oh I couldn't! I mean I! I! I don't know!"

Mika pat her back, "Hey, hey, hey! Just chill, will ya? He-"

But then Mika smelt something eerily familiar and Toshi whined. She scratched one of his ears and neck fur, "Shhhh"

Yamato caught the interaction from behind him and nodded, "You all know what to do, right?"

Naruto, Mika and Hinata nodded, "Yes sir"

Yamato sent a flurry of shuriken behind him towards the shadow following them. The person following them bounded out of the way and Toshi growled in distaste.

"This one. I hated this one just as much"

Mika growled as well, "I agree, Toshi"

Naruto gasped, "You!"

The mystery man smirked under his hood, "Me"

Yamato sighed, "Kabuto Yakushi. A wanted felon under investigation in our village. There's an order out for your capture. You're pretty brash to voluntarily approach us like this"

"I'll say" Mika agreed.

Kabuto smirked, "Oh I mean no harm. I just wanted to have a little chat with Naruto and Mika, you see"

Naruto frowned, "Is it true that Sasuke took down Orochimaru?"

Kabuto smirked but something was off about him. Mika wrinkled her nose, 'Why is his hood just blocking half of his face?'

"Still going on about Sasuke, huh? But yes. It's true. But never mind him. I've brought you guys a little present."

He reached in his back pocket and took out a small black book.

Mika growled hatefully, "What is that?"

The man looked away nonthreateningly, "Intelligence on the Akatsuki we have gathered."

"Why show it to us?"

"I'm giving it to you."

Yamato stood, still ready to fight if need be, "You're bargaining with Konoha?"

"No. I'm' sure Konoha's not that naïve. Nor am I. It's a gift to Naruto and Mika. And since they are wanted by the Akatsuki . . . Well after Lord Orochimaru's death I stopped knowing who I was again. I was picked up and raised by the enemy with no memory of my parents or birthplace. I was used as a spy since I was a child, moving around form country to country. Village to village. For a long time, the idea of home was alien to me. Until I became Lord Orochimaru's disciple. But now he's gone."

Kabuto threw the book to Naruto's feet and Mika felt her electricity spark threateningly, making the enemy flinch only slightly. He hadn't forgotten her power.

He went on, "This pain I'm feeling. Of not knowing who I am, of being without an identity. You've felt it too. Haven't you Naruto? Mika? Aer you Naruto Uzumaki or the Nine-tailed fox spirit? I know you struggled with that in the past when everyone was giving you and your sister cold stares"

"Shut up you piece of shit! He is Naruto Uzumaki! Shinobi of Konoha and my brother! Don't you dare speak as if you know him!"

Naruto gazed at Mika and frowned.

Kabuto ignored her, however "But you believe in your own strength and in yourself, Naruto. You forget the hard stares meant for nine-tails. That's why you've gained confidence in who you are and earned the respect of your teammates. Sigh. But not me. Instead of trying to reach beyond Orochimaru I stubbornly kept clinging to his power. At long last I understand where you've been and how you felt. You're the one who made me aware of all this. So I've decided to try and be like you. That's why"

He took off his hood and glasses with a creepy smirk, one eye just like Orochimaru's with sharp teeth, "I'm going to use what I've absorbed of Orochimaru to become a better, stronger Kabuto Yakushi!"

Everyone stared in horror at what the man had become.

Mika glared, 'He's insane. He really absorbed some of Orochimaru's power? Ugh'

"Lord Orochimaru is a symbol of renewal. He will live on inside me as a reminder of what I must overcome. THAT'S WEHY I'M GRATEFUL TO YOU, NARUTO. I''VE FOUND A NEW ME ALL BECAUSE OF YOU"

But Naruto was still lost, "Absorbed?"

Mika sighed and Hinata almost wanted to as well.

Kabuto, however, seemed patient and explained, "See" he lifted a sleeve, "I simply removed a portion of Lord Orochimaru's corpse after Sasuke defeated him and grafted it onto my own body!"

Mika shuddered, "Gah, That's just gross. Guess I can't call you four eyes anymore though"

Once again, she was ignored and she was getting pissed as he just went on again, "Oh the life force it's given me! I can feel it consuming my entire body!"

Yamato wanted to slap someone, "Unbelievable"

Hinata used Byakugan, "Almost a third of his body has already been taken over."

Kabuto spoke again, "I must fight not to be completely consumed. Every day, my will to surpass Lord Orochimaru is reaffirmed!"

Naruto stared at him. He almost felt bad for the madman but smirked. Before Mika could stop him, he ran at Kabuto, "Yeah well keep up the good work from inside a Konoha cage!"

"Naruto!" Mika scolded him and bolted behind him.

Naruto collided with Kabuto and Yamato appeared behind the man as well, trapping him in a wooden spiral that wrapped around his whole body.

Hinata gasped, "Naruto! Look out behind you!"

Kabuto poofed out of the trap and laughed. Mika ran in front of Naruto with her Thunder God Kunai in hand, ready for battle. Kabuto laughed.

"Once I've mastered Lord Orochimaru's power I'll fight you any day, Naruto. Mika. But my first priority is his killer. . . . Sasuke"

He made a hand sign, "See ya"

Mika tried to stop him but was too late and Kabuto disappeared with a poof of smoke.

"Dammit!" Mika cursed and Toshi whined.

They all stared down at the book and Mika picked it up, "Hm"

All of a sudden, though, a bright light blasted in the sky and they all looked in that direction.

Naruto came to stand by Mika, "What. What is that Mika?"

The beautiful sight a large but most likely a very deadly explosion meant for a powerful opponent.

"I don't know, Naruto. Maybe an Akatsuki. Let's go check it out, guys!"

Yamato nodded, "I agree. Come on! Let's call the others as well. I bet they'll be going to the same spot as well."

Mika nodded and motion Toshi, "Let's go"

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Meanwhile with Sasuke. He been battling Deidara but the man had been giving quite a bit of trouble.

"Shit!" he cursed as the blast went off.

He quickly formed a hand sign, "Summoning Jutsu!"

Manda appeared and Sasuke cast him in a Genjutsu to prevent the giant snake from escaping.

A while later, Suigetsu understood the dilemma and took out a scroll, "Dammit Sasuke!" he cursed and flung it on the ground to summon him. Manda appeared but was dying. Sasuke came out from behind the snake and fell to the ground.

"Sasuke!" Suigetsu shouted and ran to him.

Sasuke blinked in his exhaustion, 'Naruto? . . . No. No, it's just Suigetsu. Good. . . . Good'

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R&R

So here it is! I know it wasn't all very action or anything but I'm also trying to get to the good parts as quickly and efficiently as I can lol

Sneak peak!

"We've come so far already, Mika! We can't just give up now! Please! Just please don't stop now. We're so close!"

She sighed, "Naruto, you're so forgiving. I wish I was like you. But I'm not"