This is a little short by my standards, so I'll try to update two chapters today.

Chapter Twelve: A Cliff-Hanger Chapter

"Ohaiyou!" I looked at the man talking to me. He had spiky brown hair tied in a ponytail and a scar across his nose. "You're new here, aren't you?" he asked. I nodded. "I'm just passing through though," I said. "I'm on a mission to gather knowledge," I added. "Aah, knowledge. Doesn't everyone want it?" the man said, sighing dreamily. "I'm Iruka," the man said. "Feel free to ask if you need any help," he added.

"Actually," I began. "I'm looking for information on a particular kekkei-genkai..." Once I mentioned the Sharingan, Iruka grew suspicious, but I managed to convince his that I was a scholar researching extinct clans. There was hardly anything on the Sharingan though. Iruka said that they were a veery secretive clan. I was surprised that I found a whole book on the Mangekyō Sharingan, but it only contained myths and fables.

Finally, in a thick tome about Visual Prowess, I found what I needed. Apparently, the first one to awaken said Mangekyō was Uchiha Madara. The chapter was very short compared to the others, but my eyes feasted. Love was the main topic of everything relating to the Sharingan. Suddenly, a great idea popped into my head.

I left the library to find Naruto. "I'm leaving!" I announced. He was sitting alone on a swing set attached to a tree. He frowned. "Already?" he asked. Oh yeah, this kid had no friends. And the only friend he ever made was leaving after one day. Tough luck kid, un. "Yeah," I answered. "But we'll meet again," I compromised. "Yeah!" Naruto said, brightening up. "When you meet me again, I'll be the Hokage of this place!" he declared. "I'm counting on it!" I smiled as I left.

On my way out, I saw Sakura. She was with a girl whose white-blond hair may or may not be prettier than mine. I waved and she waved back. I also passed the pale-eyed girl from yesterday. "Good luck!" I called out to her. She looked startled. "Oh...um, you too!" she said. I snickered. She had no idea what I was talking about.

I could actually leave through the village gate this morning. A group of Chuunin were escorting some people out of Konoha, so I just ppretended to be with them until I was out. Sasuke was training alone in the trees outside the gate. Target practice. He's pretty good for his age, un. I tried to sneak past to get to Sasori, but he saw me anyway. He sent me a glare that could've frozen Sasori. I still managed my signature smirk and said "Don't worry! I'll tell Itachi-senpai you said hi!" "Hmpf!" he turned his head away. I shrugged, and went to find Sasori.

"You took too long!" Sasori chastised. "Hai, hai, Sasori no Danna, un," I said, rolling my eyes. I got rid of the purple wig and ninja outfit and was back in my Akatsuki getup. "I look cuter as an Akatsuki than as a ninja, ne, Sasori no Danna?" I asked. "Gaki," Sasori muttered, not looking at me.

"So where do we go next?" I asked as we left Konoha territory. "Iwagakure," he answered. "Nani?!" I screeched. "I can't go back there! I just left! If I come back now, my reputation will be ruined! Kurotsuchi will laugh at me! That old, backless Sensei of mine will have my neck!" I began tyo hyperventilate. Sasori began to laugh. At first, I didn't recognize this foreign sound, but I noticed my partner's shoulders shaking, his eyes shut tight. I paused my panic attack. "It's not funny, Sasori no Danna!" I whined, not actually wanting him to stop laughing. "My whole life could be at stake here!" Sasori laughed more. "You're surprisingly gullible, though that shouldn't surprise me," he said finally.

"You...you tricked me?!" I demanded. He shrugged, all traces of laughter gone, just like that. "You made it easy." "That wasn't fair, Sasori no Danna!" I complained. He rolled his eyes. He was back to his silent self. You know, you should laugh more, I thought.

I began to wonder about Sasori's life before the Akatsuki. I wonder why he traded his human body for that of a puppet. His emotionless expression hid a heavy secret, I could tell. Maybe he'd tell me someday. Maybe he wouldn't. Anyway, I had more pressing matters in my head.

I was determined to take down the Uchiha of the Akatsuki. And now, I had the perfect plan to do it.