Sharp stinging breaths racked my chest. My shoulder's shook in exertion. My eyes were squeezed shut in pain. My legs moved by themselves. My brain begged me to move faster but my body groaned in argument.
The folder in my grip began to slip due to my sweat.
As for how long I'd been running I knew not. All I knew was my pain and the fact that I simply HAD to run.
A heard the rush of water and made my way in that direction.
My eyes opened a crack and I saw the stream up ahead of me.
Upon sight, I dropped to my knees and face planted into the water.
I drank it deep and hard. Its cold icy depths replenished me to some aspect.
I pulled back and rolled slightly towards a tree and leaned back on it.
I breathed in hard and choked on my water.
I clutched the folder again, to me, as I shook.
I screamed my exertion and pain.
I cried through the clenching agony inside me.
My eyes closed and I sang my feelings out into the sky again.
I clutched my knees to my chest and cried.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and jerked up in the icy form of shock.
A hand covered my eyes and the voice of a man I didn't know stated, "Be still. It will all be over soon."
And with this, the set of fingers on my shoulders pressed down hard and I passed out into mercy filled slumber.
~person~
He had seen her running through the woods as he sat in the tops of the trees, waiting.
He saw the evident pain on her face and watched where she went.
The package in her arms was almost crumpled into an unrecognizable thing.
He stood as she left his range of view and, full of curiosity, jumped off through the trees after her.
At the sound of water he stopped.
He saw her pull her head from the water and watched as she leaned back into the tree.
She screamed again and again in pain.
The man frowned slightly and jumped down to her while she cried and touched her gently.
As his curiosity peaked, he needed to know what was in that folder to put her through so much agony.
She looked up in fear and panic and his hand covered her eyes.
He stated in a calm and reassuring tone, "Be still. It will all be over soon." and pressed his fingers to her shoulder.
As she fell to the ground and released her grip on the papers, she let out a sigh of relief and slid onto her side.
The man knelt down and opened the file.
His eyebrows rose. His mind was in overdrive as he considered this.
He smirked and closed the folder with a whoosh.
The girl's picture matched the one in the folder, but something just seemed odd All the same this was an interesting subject.
He sighed slightly as he tucked the folder into his cloths and picked the blond girl up in his arms.
She groaned in pain, and he moved her more gently.
A voice asked, "Who is that?"
The man turned to the other and stated very calmly, "A girl."
The other guy sighed, "I knew you'd loose it eventually. You DO understand what's going on now, right?"
The man holding the girl nodded, "Of course."
The second man sighed, "Either insane or hormonal. Personally, I hope it's the first one."
The first man sighed, "Kisame, be quiet. If she awakens you have to carry her."
The man chuckled, "Alright, Alright! Calm down, Itachi! Sheesh! Must be number two!"
Kisame waved his hands back and forth. "Just kidding! I've been researching too much lately! I just needed a joke!"
Itachi just began to walk.
~Konoha~
Shikamaru and his squad all stood tall in the Hokage's office.
"YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, SHIKAMARU!"
Shika flinched under the angry woman's glare.
She continued more calmly now as she rubbed her temples, "That girl was never of our villag.… Therefore, she is not our responsibility. Going after her would be a waste of time."
Shika gripped his hands into fists, "But look what she did! We have to at least find her!"
The woman shook her head no, "You will all die, Shikamaru!"
He growled, "No! Not if I…"
The woman broke in, "NOT IF YOU DIE! Did you not see what she did to ALL of those men? They couldn't even get near her! Look what she did to Kakashi's hand! She is more powerful than the file stated! We will not meddle in these things!"
Ino roared, "I WANT REVENGE!"
The woman sighed and gave her a sympathetic look. "Ino your family member who died, he would not want you to throw your life away."
Shika demanded, "Well what are you going to do now?!"
The woman sighed, "I will send a letter to the Tsuchikage. That is all I can do at this time. Not until I have their permission to continue."
The three standing there all glare at her.
She frowns, "As soon as he responds, we will know what to do with her."
A voice from the window asked, "I was only dropping by for a quick question."
The Hokage asked, "What is it, Kakashi?"
The man snapped his book closed and looked up to them. "One of the Akatsuki is known to have originated from their village could this have been her?"
The others all looked confused.
The Hokage frowned, "I don't believe she is, though she might as well be, but even if she is not she may be acquainted with the member. She could very well run to them for support or join."
Shika asked, "What will happen if she does?"
The woman looked frustrated and the pen in her hands crushed and splattered ink over the papers.
"Then she is forever lost from our reach."
Shika demanded, "WHY?!"
The woman stated, "If you haven't noticed his absence. We are missing a crucial factor needed to confront the Akatsuki."
Choji answered, "Naruto…"
The woman nodded, "Exactly."
Shika's grip loosened, "Please send the letter, before she has time to find them."
The woman nods and the team leaves.
Kakashi jumps into her main view and waits until the door is closed to ask, "Are you sending a bird?"
The woman frowned, "No. I am sending you."
The man nodded, "As you wish."
~Someone ELSE~
Blond hair flew out as he soared on a bird in midair.
He laid on his back staring up at the sky.
His Iwagakure headband was tied tightly around his forehead as the blond hair rushed over it.
Deidara glanced down to where Sasori was just finishing toying with his opponents and sent them away to become his future art.
Sasori had called these few so Deidara had left him alone.
His blue eyes gleamed down at Sasori as he began to walk again.
He sat up and crossed his legs under his cloak as the bird dropped down to his partner's level.
Deidara asked very calmly, "Did they know anything about your assignment, Sasori no Danna?"
Sasori, of course, replied, "No."
Deidara nodded, "Well we both know where mine is. Why don't we go there now?"
The squat man replied, "We have THAT to go to, Squirt."
Deidara frowned, "I don't trust meeting everyone in person like this. You'd better have your guard up, Danna."
The man inside the puppet growled, "I am immortal you brat! You should heed your own advice!"
Deidara sighed, "Well then let's go Sasori no Danna!"
Sasori simply walked on. "Let's just move. I hate making others wait."
Deidara grinned, "Right."