Chapter Eleven: Mission in the land of Sand

It wasn't long before Hikari got back and had given me a scroll as well as a letter from Ka-san. The letter had been tear inspiring, so much so that I hadn't really gotten much sleep. Which was why in the morning my foolishness has taken over my mind and when Pein-san attempted to send a group of his men with me I had refused? I had told him that he wanted Konoha and Sand to truly trust them...us, that he would need to let me go alone just this once; well not just this once because I knew that there would be a couple of other villages in which I would be traveling alone but he didn't need to know that. At least not yet he didn't.

I understand why you left, why you went to him Izakura. I really do; but if he hurts you and if it turns out that he's been lying all this time then I will go after you, I will kill them all and you will come home with me.Ka-san's words flashed to the forefront of my mind as I sighed and kept my running at a steady pace.

Pein-san still hadn't trusted me enough and so he had had Konan blindfold me and fly me out of the compound and just outside of fire countries borders. He didn't want me knowing how to get to and from the base, at least not yet. The question was how the hell was I going to get back? Especially when he'd left me with no way to contact him or Konan herself. Sighing I shook my head.

"Are you well mistress?" Hikari wondered out loud as she stayed at my side and kept up with my stride. My pace was probably nothing to her, but it was something that I was working on improving. Hell already it was above anything that I'd had been able to do while in Konoha.

"Hn." I responded before raising a brow and looking at Hikari seriously. When she'd returned I'd sensed it, I'd felt it, and though I had expected her to look for me instantly she hadn't; instead she'd gone straight to Otou-an and spoken with him for a couple of minutes before coming to me.

"Why did you look for Otou-san before coming to find me with Ka-san's letter and the scroll?" I asked and at that Hikari sighed and looked away from me. She'd been asked to do it, Ka-san had asked her for it and as such she had been placed in an awkward situation.

"Your mother asked it of me, and you have instructed me that when yourself, or your mother, gives me an order I am to trust in the words that are given to me." Hikari reminded me before meeting my eyes without hesitation.

"She is worried for her daughter mistress, and as such has send a letter to the man who is your father; the man who is responsible for taking you to her." Nodding I accepted her words and then picked up my pace.

We were a couple of hours away from the village hidden in the sand, I was not wearing the akatsuki cloak but I knew that when I got to the kazekage-san's office I'd have to summon it to me; I'd have to stand as the mediator that I was. I didn't like it, but I was in this situation because I'd placed myself in it and as such I wasn't about to back down. No, I'd fight; I'd fight like hell to keep my family safe.

"It's been a while since I've seen you last, how are you Iza-chan?" Temari-san called as she appeared out of no where and just as I'd gotten to the outskirts of the village. Smiling I shook my head.

"That is has Temari-san, however I am not here to visit. I have a scroll from my Hokage." I answered honestly and seriously. Instantly Temari-san's eyes widened and she nodded silently.

I knew that look, it was a questioning look but I would not reveal my mission to her. How could I when I was already about to risk more than just my own life to convince the Kazekage-san that what I was planning was worth pursuing? Especially after the akatsuki had taken his demon from him. What was more was that he knew they were after Naruto-oji-san, that they were after him and were seeking to rule the shinobi world...

"He's in the tower, was expecting you. Guess now I know why." She muttered while turning and leading the away.

While it was true that they were all well aquatinted with Ka-san, that they were like family; it was also true that when things came down to business then business and missions came first. It didn't matter how close we were, that we were family or that we were visiting. The instant a mission came up or things got serious, there was no playing around.

As we walked down the streets of the village I could feel all of the sand ANBU looking at me. They knew of my mother, or knew her personally, and so at this point they had probably already gotten wind of what our own ANBU had seen. Hikari being at my side only made everything that much more complicated. Of course it wasn't a bad thing that she was at my side, but it did serve as validating what rumors managed to reach the land of sand, therefore the others would assume that the truth would be the same of my eyes. Sadly, they would assume that my father was Sasuke-oji-san.

"So I heard some interesting rumors." Temari said as we passed the market place.

"Hn."

"I heard that Sakura's daughter had the sharingan, that she was the daughter of one of the two Uchiha alive and that she was a threat. How true is that?" Temari asked. Hikari at that point got closer to me. She'd protect me regardless of who was trying to harm me; hell she'd even protect me from myself.

"You know what they say about rumors Temari-san." I couldn't help but to taunt and then, ever so briefly revealing my sharigan to her, winking and hiding it once again. Temari, after all, was one of my mothers good friends and as such she could be trusted with the truth. Though at this point it would have to be part of the truth considering the Kazekage-san needed to hear everything for himself first.

It wasn't a surprise to find Temari-san frozen in shock for a couple of seconds before she quickly caught up to me and shook her head. She wouldn't hold it against Ka-san, she wouldn't see me any differently; though I supposed that had more to do with the fact that she believed Sasuke-san to be my father. Honestly, that wasn't something I could hold against them. After all, the mission I'd been conceived on was one that shouldn't have required a kunoichi to actually perform.

"I knew..."

"I would advise that you not finish that statement Temari-san. It is not wise to assume to know the truth." Hikari cautioned just as I picked up my pace and ran into the tower.

Temari-san was probably overrun by confusion, was pondering what Hikari had said but I knew that by the time she and I were standing before the kazekage she would know the truth and she would have figured it all out. Not like it mattered, not right now and not ever. An individuals origins and heritage had nothing to do with the type of person they were destined to become or the type of decisions they made in life.

"Kazekage-sama." I greeted with a bow. He raised a brow at me before turning to face Hikari and Temari-san's eyes. Temari's eyes were wide with astonishment and fear while Hikari's were filled with caution and tension. She knew the risks I was running and what it would mean to place myself in the position I was in right now.

"I've been expecting you, Naruto had send word." He said while turning to Temari-san. "Leave us."

"Kazekage-sama, perhaps I..."

"Leave us Temari. The information she has brought is one only the hokage and myself will be aware of." He said with a dangerous tone of voice. Nodding she turned to leave before glancing at me worriedly. I wasn't sure why, it wasn't as if the Kazekage-san would hurt me.

"Hikari-san, if you will please." I said, always addressing her properly when in the presence of others; especially leaders. Instantly she set the silencing jutsu into place.

"Here is the scroll, I will answer all of your questions after you have read the message within." I said as I summoned the scroll from Hikari's fur and then gave it to the kazekage-san. He raised a brow and while opening said scroll, locked his eyes with mine.

"That summoning animal."

"Is my own, I have signed a contract with her." I answered honestly. Nodding he turned down and began to read the excessive information I knew the hokage had send him.

While he read I walked around the office, I looked out over the village hidden in the sand and I wondered what it would be like to wield the sand using chakra. It was extremely difficult, an act only those of the village could do; but still something that caught my attention; or rather the idea of using chakra strings did.

"Your father..."

"Hn, is none other than Uchiha Itachi. I would imagine hokage-sama mentioned the file and the information we found of the truth to the Uchiha clan massacre." I said and as such the Kazekage nodded. Sighing I stood in front of his desk and hardened my eyes. I was a kunoichi, not a child, at this point and as such I would stand as one.

"What the hokage left for me to deliver by word of mouth is how the akatsuki got their proposition to him and why." I sighed as I turned to the village then back to him.

"You've seen your share of battle Kazekage-sama, I know that; and I know that compared to me, a genin with little experience in battle, I must seem foolish." I whispered with a sad smile.

"Izakura-san, what..."

"I've been with the akatsuki for the past month or so... When I discovered the truth about my fathers past, his family, and his sacrifice, I decided to follow him. I decided that he would be the one to train me and my kekkei genkai." I explained determinedly as I squared my shoulders.

"The leader to akatsuki, he's a cruel and deadly man; he wanted me to join but I refused. So I'm working for my room and board you see, and as such I'm here. Not only for Konoha, but to keep my stay at akatsuki and in hopes of ending blood shed in our world."

"Izakura what..."

"While working with them I am to heal and while doing so I thought of a way to end this needless sacrifice. My father gave up his home and turned his back on a family that had been corrupted. One that wanted to destroy the very village they'd lived in. He left his brother alive, in hopes that he could right what had been wronged; and all for what? For the right to be the best shinobi clan?" I said with a laugh. It was almost hysterical, I realized but I fought to keep my emotions in check. After all it wouldn't due to lose control now; not when I was so close to adding to the akatsuki's alley's list.

"I told the akatsuki leader that his goal was pointless, we don't need to be dominated or to be put into a world of illusions. We need true peace; a true alliance." I said with a whisper while activating my kekkei genkai and facing the kazekage-san head on.

"The leader to akatsuki has agreed to find a way to alley themselves with the shinobi villages but only if they chose to all alley as one. I will do this to protect Ka-san, to protect Naruto-oji-san but above all else to stop this pointless blood shed. Sasori of the Red Sands is dead. My Ka-san and your elder assured themselves of that." I said as I turned to Hikari and assured her that I was fine.

I'd felt her grow tense when my tone of voice had changed, felt it but made her let it go. I could deal with my emotions later, I would cope with them when my mission was not only completed but when it was a success. Sure there was a long way before I was done with what I was hoping to accomplish, however that would not stop me. Nothing would.

The kazekage-sama was a serious man, one who saw things in a particular way and who very rarely changed his mind. He was open minded though, much more so than any of the other shinobi village's leaders; but that didn't mean that he wouldn't change his mind or that he'd try to keep me in sand so as to stay away from Otou-san.

"Therefore the akatsuki is prepared to pay a fine for the wrong that they've done in the past. Of course they are also prepared to share what information they have on rare poisons and my expertise as well."

"Your expertise?" The kazekage-san asked, wanting to know more about my role in everything before anything else. Sighing I nodded.

"O...Uchiha-san has been training me and so has Kisame-san. It appears his sword cannot and will not take my chakra; rather it obeys me just as well as it does him." I said softly while shaking my head.

"Konoha is prepared to be apart of the alliance that I am trying to build, so long as they find the files and the proof needed to prove that Uchiha Itachi had been ordered outside of Sarutobi-sama to wipe out his entire clan. When that information..."

"If, if that information comes to light. Izakura-san you are not old enough to understand the consequences you are facing or the risks that..."

"I may not be as old as the average genin is, or have much experience when in terms of battle and war, but I can assure you Kazekage-sama, that I know. I've sacrificed my happiness and home for this, and as such I will reach my goal." I said with a cold, hard, and above all else determined tone of voice.

When I was done I watched as the kazekage-san looked me over, as he glanced at Hikari and then back to me. He was thinking, was processing everything and above all else he was weighing his options. Not that I blamed him, what I was asking for and the proposition I was making was insane and nearly impossible to accomplish; but I would. I would so that no one would end up having to do what my Otou-san had done for the sake of his village and the people that lived within it.

"How much is the..."

"That can be negotiated once I've gotten your approval Kazekage-san." I said cooly but not letting my guard down. That hadn't been a yes.

"If you are with them, why are you not..." but before he could finish the question I knew he was about to ask I shook my head.

"I will not join akatsuki officially until I've united the other nations together; Pein-san is aware of this fact, I have informed him of so."

"And should the nations not corporate?"

"Then when my training is done with Uchiha-san then I will do what I must to go back to Konoha." My answers were swift, easy to give and above all else they were without hesitation.

"Is Naruto aware of..."

"As I've stated before, the hokage-sama is supporting me. After I've received your approval I will travel to Konoha with Otou-san to face his trial and the evidence they've found for or against him."

"The village hidden in the sand supports you and Konoha, but what you're asking for will not only put the village and it's citizens at risk but their support in me as well." He said as he stood and grabbed his sand while leaving his coat behind.

"Kazekag-sama, what..."

"I will accept all this, on the sole condition that you fight against me and win. If you are unable to land a single hit on me then you are to return to Konoha and leave the akatsuki behind." When he was done speaking Hikari tensed, she got ready and took a step forward. However before she could talk us out of this I nodded.

"Very well, it is a reasonable request considering what you're putting on the line." I sighed as I took in a deep breath and braced myself.

Sure I'd been training, that I'd improved a lot even; but that didn't mean I was ready or anywhere near the level I needed to be at in order to go head to head with a kazekage-sama; especially my uncle. Silently I followed after him nonetheless, I twirled a kunai in my hand and though I didn't want to think about what I was about to do I did. Ever since I was a little girl I'd seen Gaara-san spar with Ka-san and my oji-sans. I'd seen the way they all fought, had memorized their patterns and to the day had not reveled what I had learned from them. Even as a young girl then I memorized all of their jutsu's and movements; I just hadn't realized it at the time.

"Kazekage-sama, what..."

"Ready my training grounds Temari." he said just as Temari caught up to us. Her eyes widened at the realization of what was about to happen, and when I didn't meet her eyes, when I didn't offer her any sort of information she knew that this was part of my mission and so sadly nodded.

"Hai." She said.

Once it all was set and done the kazekage-san and I stood face to face; he on one end of the field and I on the other. Sighing I turned down to Hikari and wondered if fighting with her at my side would be cheating or if he think it acceptable. The kazekage-san seemed to realize what it was I was contemplating and nodded before I could voice my question. He was either a mind reader or he'd already been thinking about it while on our way here.

"You are to face me alone."

"Kazekage-sama, perhaps..."

"It's all right Hikari, I'll be fine. You keep watch with Temari-san." I said seriously. All the while Hikari looked at me with serious and concern filled eyes. Not that I blamed her, what I was about to do was completely and utterly reckless; but it was also something I needed to do for myself.

"Mistress..."

"I will be fine, we will finish our business here and then progress with the next step of my plan." I said, that time with finality in my tone of voice. Bowing she stepped back and stood beside Temari-san.

"One hit then Kazekage-sama." I said seriously as I activated my sharingan and then switched straight to it's second level. I'd need to be able to see his speed and above all else I'd need to be able to see what exactly the sand all around me was doing.

"No killing blows, this will be a point only match." Temari called as she turned between the kazekage-san and me. She was looking for some sort of sign, some clue as to why we were doing what we were doing; but she'd find none. At least not now.

"Hn."

"Hai." I and the kazekage-san agreed. Frowning Temari nodded her head and then gave the signal.

As soon as she had the sand lifted and surrounded me, it encircled me and quickly tried to trap me in some sort of coffin. Sighing I made several shadow clones and substituted myself before the coffin enclosed on me. I had expected for the kazekage-san to go all out, to not hold back and really test my resolve. However what I hadn't been expecting was for him to go out all from the very beginning. Sighing I shook my head and summoned twin water dragons before wrapping them around me.

"As intelligent as ever I see." The kazekage-san mused before charging at me with kunai in hand. Nodding I withdrew my katana and went hand in hand with him. All the while he and I were taking turns pushing the other back.

"What makes you believe that you'll be able to do what no other before has done?" The Kazekage-san challenged me. Sighing I shook my head and I kicked him back. He was using all sorts of new jutsu's, most of which I copied; they would come in handy later.

"I will succeed because I must; I will protect my village and those I love." I stated as I pushed him back. Narrowing his eyes the Kazekage-san allowed his sand the freedom he always did when in battle.

"Why not use your summoning animal, she will..." the Kazekage-san began to taunt.

"For this I will relay on no one's strength but my own." I snarled as I dodged and threw all the weapons I had at him. Instantly the sand protected the Kazekage-san, it gave him time to think, and above all else it created a sort of shield around him.

"You truly think you are capable of doing this? You may be advanced for your age however mentally you are still a child." The Kazekage-sama lectured me. When he did my eyes narrowed and instead of keeping track of my anger and pulling it back I let go. My vision went read, I allowed for the full potential of my chakra to be send to my eyes and my speed was three times it's original.

"I will be seen for the kunoichi I am." I snarled and then lost myself in the battle. There were on lookers, I could sense them, all mostly ANBU Sand shinobi, shinobi that my mother had healed and saved; but they didn't matter. What was more important was that every now and then I could hear the Kazekage-sama try to mock me again, as he tried to distract me but mentally I was having none of that!

For what seemed like minutes we were avoiding each others attacks, we were attacking one another and then we were not holding back. The kazekage-san was showing his power, proving that what he'd spoke of had been no threat but a promise; a promise he expected for us both to honor. The problem with his theory was that he was assuming that he would win, that he'd be the victor of our spar and that I had no chance at obtaining what I wanted.

Hours later I was breathless, I felt exhausted and though I had wanted some sort of challenge this had not been the way I had wanted to get it. Nonetheless I kept going, I pushed and finally, when I saw an opening, when I saw his fatigue I faked a slip up and within the last seconds substituted myself to reappear behind him with a katana to his throat. Instantly the sand rose from the ground, it hesitated and tried to find a way to protect the Kazekage-sama without injuring him. However being who and what I was to him, it made everything that much more difficult.

"Izakura Haruno Uchiha is the victor, do you acknowledge this as truth Kazekage-sama?" Temari spoke. All the while I could tell and hear the tension that was coursing through her veins. I knew it but I would not recognize it; at least not yet. First thing was first.

"Will you agree to the allegiance as you have promised or will you go back on your word?" I whispered. For several seconds the Kazekage-sama stood still, he seemed pensive but finally he nodded.

"I acknowledge and I give you my word the Sand shinobi will stand behind you Uchiha Haruno Izakura; but note that we will only stand behind you and the akatsuki only if you remain their mediator." He said seriously. Nodding Izakura bowed, she nodded in acceptance of his promise and then allowed for her summoning animal to stand by her.

"Do you require healing Kazekage-sama?" Hikari asked and he shook his head. Meanwhile Temari sand looked at me with wonder and amazement in her eyes. I knew she didn't mean it in an offending manner but somehow it still irked me.

"Kazekage-sama, may I request shelter for the evening. I must recover my chakra, and if you require assistance at the hospital I will be more than willing to assist them there."

"No, Temari show Izakura to a room." He ordered as he sighed and turned in the direction of his office again. "Oh and Izakura?"

"Hai, Kazekage-san?"

"Prior to your departure you are to come to my office, there are a couple of final details we must review."

"Of course." I assured him and thus he left. Sighing I shook my head and smiled at Temari-san. "I am fine, and not a scratch on me." I said with a light tone, which in turn caused Temari to shake her head.

"You're as kind hearted as your mother, intelligent too; but just as every bit as head strong and stubborn as the Uchiha brothers." She said before turning around and facing the village.

"Come on, I'll treat you to dinner and while we eat you can tell me all about this Akatsuki nonsense." Temari said and the tone of voice implied a command rather than an invitation. Sighing I nodded and followed; I followed because really what could I do?

A/N: So here's the next chapter, I promise things about to get a lot more interesting. For those asking yes, you will be seeing insights to Sasuke's thoughts as well as Naruto's, Saukra's, and…well you'll see ;) Once again that you all so much for reading and as always please don't forget to review. :D