Chapter 9

Sasuke glared across the fire at the masked woman. She was obviously under orders to take him in at almost any cost but she had cut the fight short. What had his brother said to her to make her hold back in the fight? Then there was the matter of the seal on his neck. The moment it had appeared his entire body had begun to burn, it still did, but as long as he didn't try to use his chakra it hurt a little less. He could tell that was what she had meant to do. It almost seemed like a person attack. He couldn't recall ever harming someone called Shuyaku. He wondered what her real name was.

"You seem tense, Shuyaku." The blue haired woman teased.

"This trip should not take this long. I want to get back to the village as soon as possible." Shuyaku responded.

"Tired of the company."

"Enough Konan." The Akatsuki leader said. "I am sorry. I know my condition and the boy are slowing you down. It is my request that keeps you here."

"You're forgiven. But we need to get back soon. We can't risk being out in the open for too long with him." The masked woman's voice turned colder as she mentioned Sasuke. "I'll take the watch. Get your rest."

The Akatsuki seemed to trust her but Sasuke stayed awake watching her. Even though he couldn't actually see her there was something familiar about her. The way she held herself like she was apart from everything around her. She wasn't a part of the Akatsuki but she was allying herself with them. She could at least try. Then there was just her appearance. She was completely covered, head to toe. Kagome had done that too but Kagome wasn't even that cold. She was broken, he knew. That pain had caused her to be distant, the woman in front of him was too cold to be human.

"You can stay awake as long as you like, it won't change anything. Kisame will carry you to the village. Your exhaustion will not change a thing."

He suddenly knew who she reminded him of. Haku. The boy had been so cold and barely human so that he could play the role of weapon for Zabuza. This woman had resigned herself to play that same role. It was interesting considering the name she'd been given. Someone had thought high enough of her to call her "hero." He wondered how she'd fooled them. At some point in the night his mind slipped back to Kagome for the millionth time since facing Naruto. Her broken eyes haunted him when he finally found sleep. This time, though, it was her response to him being brought in. The pain and the anger, the same she had shown the bridge builder. It took many shinobi to keep her from fulfilling her promise to kill him. Before she could Itachi shook him awake to feed him.

"Why is everyone having nightmares these days?" Itachi mused throwing a glance at the anbu who had moved to scout the road ahead.

Sasuke grunted and moved his head to avoid the food. He had no desire to have his brother's help and the new angel of his head allowed him to watch the anbu. She finally called them to move out and Sasuke was once again thrown on to the shark man's shoulder. A messanger met them half way to the village gates. She told the anbu to take the group to another location to meet with the Hokage. The turn of events angered the Akatsuki but the anbu did as she had been ordered after filling the woman in on Sasuke's arrest. It seemed to Sasuke that the anbu believed he would immediately be taken in to the village considering the sound of surprise that had escaped from under her mask.

"Fine," he heard her ground out. "We'll head that direction."

What the found in the clearing was a surprise to Sasuke. It wasn't just the Hokage and a group of anbu there to guard her. No, it appeared a task force had been formed to act as an army and this was their first briefing. The Hokage smirked at the anbu.

"Well I looks like the last pieces of the puzzle have finally arrived." The blonde woman said. "Now, before I can let you into the village I need to know what information you have."

"Seriously, we come all this way, put up with that ice bitch, and we don't even get to enter the village until we give up our bargaining chip!" Konan yelled.

"Understand this, the woman in front of you could have killed you all but she didn't because those were her orders that could change. Now, we didn't force you to tell us when you weren't near the village because we knew you wouldn't trust us. We need what you know to stop Orochimaru. So please, share your information and then you may enter."

"Konan, stop." Nagato said calmly. "Orochimaru is going after the tailed beasts."

"Why?"

"I don't completely comprehend it all myself. What he said did not make any sense to any of us. He said that he was going to use the tailed beasts to bring true demons into our world."

The hokage frowned. "I see. Whatever he means by that….never the less our purpose in doing all of this remains the same. Will you help us to fight him?" She asked. "Your freedom does not hang on your answer, only your involvement in the next few moments."

Nagato looked to each of his remaining members who each nodded their approval. "Yes."

"Good, then Shuyaku. As we discussed."

The Anbu stepped to take her place beside the Hokage. She reached up to remove her mask. Sasuke felt goosebumps ripple across his skin at the thought of learning her identity. He wasn't sure when his curiosity had become so strong but he needed to know. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as her hand came to rest on her mask. Suddenly there was an outburst from one of the anbu. Everyone turned to look at the guy as he pushed to the front of the group.

"Kaunserā," Shuyaku said sternly.

"If she takes off that mask she loses her standing as an anbu." Kaunserā said.

"She knows. We discussed this before she was appointed. She knew that if the time came she would be called to leave her position."

"If she leaves, I leave too."

"Fine," The Hokage growled.

Finally the girl removed her mask. Sasuke's heart dropped into his stomach. He could not believe that Shuyaku was…no…..it couldn't be. She stared back at him with her cold blue eyes. All this time he had been comparing the two of them this entire time. He watched as she turned her eyes to the others in the area. They all were reacting the same as him at the revelation of her identity. None of them spoke though. He decided to look back at her. She had matured into a cold young woman. If anything she was more beautiful than she'd ever been.

Finally Naruto broke the silence, "Kagome."

"Hey, Naruto." She said her face softening. "Sorry I left without saying goodbye."

"Well, now that the theatrical mess is over with perhaps we should explain this. Kagome?" Tsunade said.

"Right, you all present represent the new task force that will be responsible for taking Orochimaru down. A year and a half ago this this task force was shut down due to insurmountable failures. Now we have new leads including Orochimaru's apprentice." Kagome said turning to stare at Sasuke. "I was chosen to lead this task force by Lady Tsunade when she appointed me to the Anbu. She made me swear that if Orochimaru came out of hiding and began to act on his plans I would take off the mask and take over where a friend had left off. I helped to choose each of you because of your skills and experiences. "

"Then you've gathered quite a team then." A red haired boy piped up. Sasuke remembered seeing him with the Akatsuki but this was the first time he'd spoken. "I have a quick question for you, Kagome, do you recognize me?" He paused as she stared at him. "No, well. I guess that really isn't important. I have some friends, they'd be interested in helping. For an old friend."

With that the boy was gone.