Oh. My. Gosh. I know I've already updated Retribution, but since this is a story that's been with me far longer, I feel so refreshed updating it T_T. Speaking of which, guess what? This is only one of two updates you're getting today. Someone *coughShizakecough* convinced me to do a double update.

I would like to thank Little miss innocent liar for reviewing this story here. I'd also like to thank UzumakiMasumi (from ) for beta-ing this for me. I'm pretty sure I changed all the things she added... I tried to also look over it, so if I missed anything, I'm sorry.

Although I am unsure how many of your really enjoy today, I'd also like to say Happy Valentines' Day. Even if it is named after an bad guy (will only understand if you've read The Mortal Instruments), it's a holiday, right? More commercialize, but still...

This chapter doesn't really have a song. I didn't figure there was any real point trying to figure something out, so I just didn't do it *shrugs*. So there is no disclaimer for that.

Now, I kinda forgot the question for last chapter, but oh well. I'll remember it this time ^_^.

Question: How did Yuumai's brother both betray and avenge his parents?

Okay, I think that is all. Though I'll probably remember something later, though I can put that in the next update. I just have to edit it since I didn't have the time to send it to UzumakiMasumi. So if it's bad... Yeah, that's why. Speaking of, if there's anything in parenthesis I forgot to take out, I'm sorry U^_^.

2-14-13

"Put some elbow grease into it then!"

Sakai's voice rang through the kitchen, snapping like a whip at the young apprentice. He quavered in fear, having made the mistake of complaining to the chef. Then again, nobody was ever prepared for the terrifying man. His old, weathered appearance gave people the impression that he was weak. They couldn't be further from the truth.

"Bu-but, Chef, I-I didn't do all of it. Why am I the only one wh-who has to clean th-this? I-It's s-so hard." The apprentice glanced away, refusing to meet Sakai's eyes. Instead, he tried to use them to beg one of his coworkers to help him.

Nobody dared offer.

A low, annoyed growl came from the older man. Then he barked, "Then maybe next time you won't be foolish enough to horseplay in my kitchen, eh?" If possible, his glare grew more intense. "Of course, there will not be a next time, will there, Satoshi?"

"No, sir…."

"Speak up and look me in the eyes!"

Slowly but surely, Satoshi began to look at the kitchen master. "No, sir, there will not be a next time."

After a few more moments of tense eye contact Sakai gave a satisfied huff and turned away. "A wimp, just like all the rest."Before he had a chance to continue his inspection of the kitchen, a quiet voice from the front spoke out.

"Chef Sakai, I'm sorry to bother you," a small voice said, "but I need to ask you something." Mimi had stuck her head through the door to the actual restaurant, watching the scene unfold. Like she should, she had waited until Sakai finished to speak.

"What is it, Mimi?" His voice softened considerably as he addressed his granddaughter.

"Some shinobi want directions, Chef Sakai."

Despite his seeming untiring exterior the man let out a tired sigh. "Tell them I'll be right with them then." Once Mimi had left, the chef turned his piercing gaze to the many workers. "Everything had better be first-rate when I get back, got it?"

A chorus of "Yes sir" answered him.

Nodding his approval, Sakai left the kitchen. The restaurant was, as usual, busy with travelers, shinobi, and Dune Village residents. The stools at the bar were full for the most part, and at least half the tables and booths were occupied. He felt a swell of pride at how well his restaurant was doing.

"This is the owner and top chef of Amatsu Kaze(*1), Chef Sakai Rokusaburo." Mimi said, her voice drawing Sakai's focus to the shinobi she had mentioned before. "Chef Sakai, these are the Sand shinobi travelers."

Even without the introduction, Sakai would have been able to tell the two were shinobi of the Sand. The man wore the usual Sand jonin gear. Both also had a Sand headband. At least the man did. The teen girl with him had a metal plate on the back of her glove with the Sand symbol.

As the old man truly focused on the girl, his eyebrows rose. Her completely pink outfit stood out against her dark complexion, and her hair flowed like water slightly past her butt. He knew Mimi was beautiful. It wasn't because it was his granddaughter that he knew this, but it was because it was a fact. This young girl, however, had some sort of exotic beauty that allowed her to surpass Mimi's.

"Hello, Chef Sakai. I am Raido Gansaku, and this is one of my students, Hime Enjin. It is quite a fine restaurant you have here."

Sakai couldn't help but smile as the words increased his already fresh pride. "Thank you. I am pleased that I have another satisfied customer. And seeing as one of the things we here at Amatsu Kaze promise is customer service, how may I help you?"

Raido glanced at Hime and then hurriedly away. "Well, you see…."

"We're lost," Hime interrupted. "Our sensei lost our map and thought he could lead us to the Leaf when he has less sense of direction than a newborn."

Sakai raised an eyebrow while the other male gave a nervous laugh. "Well, when you put it that way, Hime, maybe it wasn't the best of ideas," Raido admitted. Then he gestured to Amatsu Kaze. "If we had, though, we never would have found this wondrous place."

Rather than allow the two shinobi to argue Sakai spoke up. "You're in the Dune Village. If you're heading to the Leaf from here, you'll have to go through the Shira Forest, which is technically Fire Country territory even though it's in the River Country."

Sakai had never understood why that was, nor why it was trying to become a Wind Country village. Wouldn't it be simpler to be a part of the River Country? He didn't question it, though, because he neither lived there nor ran it. "Get through there," he continued, "and you'll have a pretty clear path to the Leaf."

"I hadn't thought we were that far north from the Sand Village," Raido remarked half to himself. "Those Shira Bandits still a problem?"

Sakai shrugged. "Don't keep up with their news, to tell you the truth. Just be careful either way and watch your back," he added. "Some fellow from the village did stop here, though – when was it, Mimi?"

"I believe you're talking about the man four months ago, Chef Sakai, sir."

"That's right, Mimi. Thank you. If I remember correctly, he said something about them being worse," Sakai told them.

"Who exactly are the Shira Bandits, Raido-Sensei?" Hime inquired.

Sakai felt a pang in his heart thinking of the young girl going into the forest. She was no older than his precious Mimi. "How about I give you and your team a map?" he asked, interrupting whatever Raido had been saying in reply.

Hime clapped her hands in joy. "You would really do that, Chef Sakai?" She smiled at her sensei. "Come on, accept it. We need it – especially if we're going to get to the Leaf in time to sign up and get a good look around."

Raido laughed. "Sure thing, Hime. So, Chef Sakai, I hope you'll take that as a yes."

"I'll get that for you, Grand- I mean, Chef Sakai."

These two girls, Sakai thought as he watched Mimi rush off to retrieve the map,are both quite energetic.

"I'll go tell the guys the good news – no more following Sensei's directions! If you'd even call them that," Hime cheered, smiling widely. Before Raido could retort, Hime was already moving to where two boys were seated, sipping from steaming tea.

"How long have you all been a team?" Sakai asked.

"Maybe ten or so months officially now." Raido said. He had not moved his eyes from his students, a strange sadness in his lavender eyes.

In his mind's eyes, Sakai saw a bloodied Mimi, her skin deadly pale as a medical ninja hurriedly tried to heal her(*2). "Take care of them, got it?" This finally made Raido look at the elderly chef. "That is a sensei's job, right? Don't fail them."

He smiled ruefully. "I can't fail them." Raido's voice had lowered, pain now mixed in with the sadness in his eyes. "I have too much to make up for with them."

Before Sakai could say anything, his granddaughter made her reappearance, the map clutched in her hand. She handed it to the shinobi, and said, "Here you go, Mister Raido."

"Thank you."

Then he was gone, leaving a confused Sakai staring at him and his team. Everyone has a story, I guess.

He finally ripped his gaze from them as a loud clatter came from the kitchen. Sakai's eyebrow twitched as he turned toward the door. "Those good-for-nothing fools." He flung the door open and walked through it, his terrifying wrath following him.

"Uh-oh," Mimi murmured. "Someone made a racket. There'll be a murder soon….."

Stay calm and focus. That's all I can tell you.

It was hard to follow Yuumai's advice. After attempting for seven days now, Ryu found his attention shifting to other things. The birds' beautiful songs, the water crashing against water from the nearby waterfall, the slight noise from Yuumai running laps around the forest, and the slow, calm breathing of Shikamaru.

Ryu could never remember having so much difficulty learning a technique. And to think that the reason for his troubles was his best jutsu. He opened his eyes, sighing at the tree in front of him. Almost every two or three feet there was a footprint where the bark had broken beneath him.

Stop expelling chakra so much from your feet!

It's not like I'm meaning to.

Ryu and Yuumai had basically gone through the same thing every other time he would mess up. It wasn't until the third day Shikamaru finally grew tired of it and explained why Ryu kept putting out too much chakra. Apparently it was because he was so used to the static field jutsu. After having used the jutsu for so long and so much, Ryu had grown accustomed to releasing large amounts of chakra rather than having a nice, balanced stream.

"It looks like it's going to rain."

Shikamaru's voice drew Ryu's attention to his team-mate. He was leaning against one of the trees Ryu had already used, looking up at the sky. Following his gaze, Ryu saw that the sky had become a grey plate. "Wow. When did the rain clouds roll in?"

"Dunno," Shikamaru replied. With a sigh, the lazy boy rose to his feet. "It's probably time to go pick up Aiko. Man, this is such a drag."

Smiling, Ryu said, "Well, at least once you're done, you can come back and help me train Yuumai." This earned him a glare. "Oh, speaking of Yuumai, tell her she can go ahead and rest."

Grumbling what Ryu assumed was a yes, Shikamaru walked off. After his comrade had gone about three yards, Ryu turned back to his newest tree. It was scarred by eight footprints. Judging from how well he had been doing, Ryu was sure there would be another one in a few seconds.

He closed his eyes and tried to erase all distractions from his mind. Yuumai's advice repeated in Ryu's mind. Stay calm and focus. It sounded so easy, yet it had proved to be quite difficult for him.

Concentrate.

The chakra flowed to his feet.

Concentrate.

Once it reached its destination, Ryu willed it to stream evenly rather than gushing out.

Concentrate.

His eyes flew open as he felt the right amount of chakra stream into his feet. Doing his best to maintain that flow, Ryu charged the tree. He jumped up, hooking himself to the bark with his chakra. For a moment he felt a sense of wrongness as everything changed. The sky was now in front of him and the ground behind. Unlike the first time where the sudden change made him fall, Ryu managed to push it aside in seconds and continue up the tree.

Almost there, Ryu thought, seeing the first branch about ten feet in front of him.

"Hey, Ryu, you're actually doing it," an enthused voice called.

Shocked by suddenly hearing Yuumai's shout, Ryu's concentration faltered. He felt chakra surge to his feet a moment before he was suddenly sent flying off. Ryu barely managed to land on his feet, and even though he did, he only managed to stay up for a moment before falling.

"Or, well, you were."

"I was doing just fine before you surprised me," Ryu shot back. He glanced over to see Yuumai leaning against the tree. Her breathing was labored and sweat dripped down her blood red face. "Well, at least you didn't faint like yesterday."

The major problem with training Yuumai to fight, as Shikamaru and Ryu had quickly found out, was her lack of stamina. Since that first day Yuumai had to run for thirty minutes. Her time had been increased to forty-five minutes the previous day.

Yuumai glared slightly at the reminder. "Just get back to your tree climbing."

Although Ryu rolled his eyes, he did as Yuumai said. His progress was slow, but he usually made it a bit farther each time. Yuumai threw in random advice at even more random times. Half the mistakes he had made were due to her speaking. After twenty minutes he had made it to the second branch.

His breaths slightly hard, Ryu leaned against the tree he'd been running on. With only ten minutes until Shikamaru usually returned, he figured it would be best to rest a bit. He had his neck craned back, giving him a clear view of the broken bark and green sky of leaves.

A twinge of disappointment flashed when Ryu saw all the failed attempts above him. He was also surrounded by failed attempts on other trees that were no longer usable. How could just one jutsu mess him up so much?

It was an unconscious habit, Ryu was beginning to realize, to twist his ring when he was in thought or troubled. In that moment he was a mixture of both. He hadn't realized it, though, until Yuumai pointed it out. She was suddenly beside him, bent down to stare at it.

"Yuumai, staring at it won't bring out a new secret."

His words did nothing to deter her determination. "I wouldn't try to find stuff out on my own if you would just tell me," she retorted.

He sighed. Her attempts were really starting to wear at his patience. Just the other day she had interrogated him because he'd panicked when he hit it against a tree. She wasn't aware that this was because it nearly came off. "Please just cut it out, Yuumai. I'm too tired for it right now."

The teen raised an eyebrow. "And you'll ever be in the mood?" Yuumai countered.

Although she had a point, he shrugged. "I'm even less in the mood when I'm tired and trying to rest before your training starts," Ryu said. His attempt to use logic that would also affect her did nothing except make her eyes narrow.

"Why won't you tell me?"

"Because it doesn't matter," Ryu replied calmly, though at the moment he wanted to snap at her. Even when he tried to diffuse the situation, she just kept pushing.

The Kumoichi cocked her head to the side, staring at the boy. "It's just a simple ring. What could be so secretive about it?"

Ryu almost laughed. Nobody knew just how many secrets it held, or what it was his ring hid except for Hiruzen and Asuma. He was sure they didn't want to know either, no matter how curious Yuumai was in that moment. "You don't want to know," he assured.

Scoffing, she snapped, "You're right, I don't. I've just been asking you over and over again because I have nothing better to do."

"If you guys are okay arguing, would it be alright if I went back to the house?"

The voice drew the attention of both teens. Shikamaru leaned against a nearby tree, a lazy expression on his face. "It looks like one of you is about to punch the other. Or should I worry about something else like you two kissing?"

Yuumai looked absolutely appalled by the idea while Ryu sighed and rolled his eyes, saying, "You need to stop reading teen romance books, Shikamaru."

"Don't have to," he said, sliding down into a sitting position. "Ino will tell me, anyway."

Still annoyed by his comment, Yuumai glowered. "How about we get to the practicing now?"

Ryu gestured to the middle of the clearing, regaining her attention. With one last venomous look at Shikamaru, Yuumai moved to her usual starting spot during their daily lessons. "For the past couple of days we've been instructing and fixing your technique. So how about we have a sparring match instead today?" Ryu suggested. "Meaning the only time I'll critique you is at the end unless you ask."

Yuumai shrugged. "Sounds good to me."

The Nara smirked. "Let the hitting begin."

Only growing more annoyed by Shikamaru's remark, Yuumai stuck out her tongue. "I am just going to sic Shingi on you," she warned.

Her threat made no impact on Shikamaru. Instead he looked up at the clouds again.

"How about we start?" Ryu recommended before anything else could be said. If glares could kill, he was sure Yuumai would have died a hundred times already. After Yuumai grumbled that they could, Ryu glanced at Shikamaru. "Tell when to start, okay?"

"Whatever."

Both fell into battle stances, staring intently at each other. Ryu was happy Yuumai had actually done so. Her reactions varied between a strong refusal to do anything and complying. He could never guess which she would do each time. Luckily Yuumai had chosen to do as they said.

"Start."

****

"Yuumai, that was really slow and you even saw it. You should have stopped it."

"I could have sworn I saw something," said girl quickly defended.

Asuma felt his mouth twitch at the children, knowing he had caused Ryu to chastise Yuumai. Her sore jaw was more than likely his fault, but the situation was amusing. When Ryu had punched, Yuumai must have glimpsed him spying on the trio. Her slight hesitation had proven painful for her face.

Well aware that either Shikamaru or Ryu was likely to check it out, Asuma quickly started moving away. They didn't need to know that he was checking in on them. It helped settle his mind, though, to know that they were okay.

He had allowed Ryu to fight against the Shira bandit known as Toku, but guilt still ate at him for it to the point that he checked on his students almost every hour. Asuma refused to let him be attacked again. Although the first time had been necessary, he saw no reason for it to happen once more.

Already Asuma could see the effects the battle had had on him. Ever since the kidnapping incident, Ryu had lost his own faith in his strength. He wasn't aware of this, but recently Asuma had realized it. After he became a genin, it was obvious. He was too afraid he'd always rely on its strength.

Once he had battled Toku with his own power, that had left him. His faith may not be entirely restored, but it was much stronger than before and the doubt and fear that had once plagued his eyes was nearly gone.

Asuma, believing he was far enough away from Ryu and the others, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and returned to his mission of searching for the herbs. It was a task that was proving to be more difficult with each passing day. They had found all but seven of the herbs, but the prior day they had been unable to find them. Although it put him at risk of running into the Shira bandits, Asuma had begun to venture deeper into the forest in his search.

Flicking the ashes off the tip of the cigarette, he knelt down by what may be the herb they were searching for. He sighed in annoyance when he saw that it was a similar herb which had been fooling him quite often. Fighting the Shira bandits was sounding more appealing than searching for the necessary ingredients. He would even rather help his students catch more of the beetles. Ryu and Shikamaru had no clue how much they had lucked out.

As Asuma rose to his feet, his eyes narrowed. In one swift movement, a kunai was out and thrown in the direction of the chakra he had sensed. Even though he had a bad feeling, he'd thrown the kunai slightly to the side so that it sunk into the tree by the new arrival's head.

Shocked by the sudden attack, the dark haired male froze. It was only momentarily, but it made his following attempt at a relaxed nature ridiculous. The man placed his hands in his pockets as if at ease and loosened his stance. "Your aim could use a bit of improvement."

Asuma smirked as he pulled out his chakra blades. "You're right. Maybe I should use hand-to-hand combat." Instantly the new man paled. Asuma's eyes narrowed again. He looked familiar, but he was sure he wasn't a part of the search team. "Who are you?"

"A new friend and ally of yours," the man said. Although he couldn't muster the same amount of nonchalance as he had before, he did a pretty good job. "Me and the rest of the Shira Bandits have been asked to help you with that yin-yang brat," he said, unconsciously rubbing a pad on his cheek.

Both the injury on his cheek and mention of the Shira Bandits made Asuma realize who the man was. If he remembered correctly, his name was Senshi. He'd been the one leading Toku's group. And the yin-yang brat he spoke of was Ryu. "I would never help you do anything to Ryu," he scoffed in annoyance.

Senshi raised an eyebrow. "So you're going to ignore your own orders? The Hokage made this request to us himself."

Asuma scowled in disbelieve, focusing chakra into his blades. A blue aura thrummed to life around them. "The Hokage would never team up with bandits, and especially not over something like Ryu," he disagreed. "There's nothing for you to help me with involving him."

He felt the other presence a moment before he heard him. "I am sorry to say that is not true."

Shock ran through the bearded man. Turning around he found himself staring into a pair of black eyes. "Father." Although Asuma usually referred to Hiruzen by his title, his sudden appearance had drawn the word out of him. Asuma couldn't believe the sight before him. The Hokage stood right before him, miles from the Leaf, apparently asking for the help of bandits. Although every part of him screamed that this was wrong, some feeling told him this was his father. "What is going on?"

A heavy sadness brought the Hokage's eyes down. "Ryu has betrayed us, Asuma."

"That can't be true!" Asuma instantly protested, his eyes widening. "This is Ryu we're talking about, Lord Hokage. There must be some kind of mistake."

Even as Asuma spoke, he shook his head. "My son, I wish this was so, but I have looked at every possible angle. Ryu has made a deal with the villagers still siding with joining the Sand," the Hokage explained dejectedly. "Once you get all the necessary herbs, he plans on stealing them to create more Enhancement pills."

Senshi couldn't help but smile as he watched the confliction flash within Asuma's eyes. Daichi's ability truly was terrifying. No matter how much faith he had in the kid, he was trapped within what he believed to be his father's words.

"Why?" Asuma asked. His hands were trembling, Senshi noticed. "Why would he do something like that?"

Somehow Daichi showed great pain in his eyes. Senshi would never understand how he could act so well. Even when his genjutsu was absolute, which he was sure it soon would be, Daichi acted the part he was supposed to.

"My information leads me to believe he has been offered some of these Enhancement pills himself," Daichi said.

Asuma's face suddenly paled. "You don't think he'd be trying to….."

Senshi was sure that Daichi had no clue what Asuma spoke of, but he nodded. "I do believe so. I am especially worried if he uses a pill while using his ability."

When his shoulders sagged in defeat, there was no doubt that the genjutsu had taken complete control. "Is there nothing we can do to save him, Lord Hokage?" His voice was nearly a whisper, the forgotten cigarette in his mouth slowly fading into ashes.

"I am unsure, but I plan on asking him to change his mind. If he does not…" Daichi paused, watching Asuma's reaction. A small smirk formed. "If not, we will have to kill him."

Trying to hide his pained expression, Asuma looked at the ground. "Yes, Father."

Then it began to rain.

*1 - This means heavenly wind.

*2 - Some may be confused by this random info, but trust me, you'll find out more later on.