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Scattered Clouds, Disappearing Mist

A Plea for Help

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Konohagakure no Shizune ran up the stairs within Hokage Tower, her sudden departure gaining a curious look from the shinobi scout whose news had sent her running. Her breaths came quick as she forced chakra into her feet, speeding up her already tired limbs, having just come back from a rather grueling training session. Her short black bangs bounced on her forehead as she propelled herself up two stairs, clearing three, and continued onwards.

"Hokage-sama!"

Shizune didn't stop as she hit the door, expertly barging into Tsunade's office. She stumbled and tripped slightly over her feet, but her years of being a shinobi saved her, and she skid to a halt at the front of her mistress's desk. She stood there, gasping for breath, her hands on the smooth surface shaking as her balance wobbled dangerously.

"Shizune? What's going on?"

Black eyes lifted to curious brown as Tsunade cast a worried glance down at her from her seat.

"My lady… the scouts… there… three…"

A hand rested on Shizune's shoulder, effectively steadying the young woman.

"Breathe Shizune," Tsunade ordered. At the raven's nod, her hand fell back to her desk, her eyes watching as her attendant slowly straightened after a few moments, breathing deeply. "Now… tell me what's going on."

"Hai, Tsunade-sama. The scouts you sent guarding the border spotted three travelers heading here. I've had another scout team follow them. They're at the gates now –"

"Shizune, we have travelers coming here everyday it seems. We're a prosperous village –"

"No, you don't understand! The guards at the gates confirmed they're Orochimaru's!"

Tsunade locked eyes with her attendant in shock.

"To attack?"

"No, for help…"

Dread filled the Sannin as she watched Shizune's eyes darken.

"Who sent them?"

"…Sakura."

- - -

Naruto Uzumaki pouted as he walked beside his teammates. His arms crossed against his chest as he glared at the front entrance of Konoha, which was slowly coming into view.

"Man, I don't see why Obaa-chan had to send us to retrieve these guys. I mean, there are other shinobi who could do it. We have to find Sakura! How are we supposed find her if we're sent on stupid missions like this?"

Sasuke threw him a rough glance at the sound of the pinkette's name, but it was Sai who looked up from his scroll and regarded the blonde carefully.

"Dick-less, maybe Hokage-sama doesn't think you're up to finding Ugly-san."

Naruto saw a muscle jump in Sasuke's jaw, but glared instead at the other.

"Hey, that's not funny!"

"I wasn't trying to be funny."

Sparks flew from cerulean as Naruto refrained painfully from chocking the daylights out of Sai.

"I'm strong enough to bring back Sakura-chan!"

"So you've forgotten how she knocked you out within a few moments the last time?"

"No, I didn't forget!"

"Then why –"

"Both of you shut up. We're here."

Two pairs of eyes met an annoyed onyx then swung to the large blue gates of Konoha, where three travelers stood and stared at them; one bewildered, one amused, the other hidden underneath the shadows of a dark cloak.

The scowl on Naruto's whiskered face melted into a wide grin as he approached the trio, his arm outstretched.

"Hey there! Uzumaki Naruto, at your service! That guy brooding over there is Uchiha Sasuke, and the clueless-looking one is Sai."

The clocked figure grasped his hand and shook it warmly. The two ravens glared at the back of the blonde's head, but nodded their heads in acknowledgement to their names.

"Who are you?" Naruto continued kindly.

Twin hands reached up to remove the clock hook, revealing a young woman about eighteen. Her dark bronze hair fell about her face and into her hazel eyes in lazy cascades. Her tired smile brightened as the young men before her all stared at her in surprise and giggled towards the white-haired youth standing beside her. Aqua orbs danced with mischief as a crooked smile flittered over his mouth, exposing twin rows of pointed teeth. At their back, trying to unsuccessfully remain inconspicuous in the shade of the setting sun, a massive man pulled his black cloak over his shoulders more firmly, his amber eyes gazing down shyly from over the folds.

"We were sent here from Otogakure to meet with your Hokage," The girl said, her dazzling gaze making Naruto's legs turn to jelly where he stood.

"Oh, r-right! We're your escorts!"

She breathed in relief.

"Oh good. Can you take us there now? It's urgent that we see her immediately."

"Y-yeah, of course! Right this way…!"

- - -

"Otogakure no Tsubaki… the same as Iwagakure no Tsubaki, am I right?"

Said girl warily nodded her head at Tsunade's question, her eyes dark with exhaustion.

Tsunade folded her hands under her chin, her elbows resting on her desk as she regarded the visitors standing before her. She stared at the kappa youth who was looking around at him in a smug awe, gaining strange glances from Team Kakashi at the back of her office.

"Hozuki Suigetsu?"

The sword wielder swung his gaze to her.

"Who wants to know?" he asked dumbly, feigning stubbornness.

Tsunade sighed and rolled her eyes.

Great… another Naruto-baka…

She glanced over at the amber-haired man next to Tsubaki, looking quite out of place as his broad shoulders still reached to the girl's ribs from his sitting position on the floor.

"Tenpin no Juugo?"

The man nodded slowly, his deep eyes somber with unease.

"What brings you here?"

Tsubaki pulled her cloak closer to her body, as if to hide from a sudden cold.

"We came here to gain your help, Hokage-sama. Suigetsu here wants a position in your forces that are deployed against the Akatsuki…"

Tsunade's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Akatsuki, huh?"

"Yes, he wants to be able to kill Hoshigaki Kisame for his sword Samehida."

"I see… and Juugo?"

"Well, Orochimaru-sama used him to create the Cursed Seals. He has an uncontrollable rage but doesn't want to kill anyone –"

"Pfft… wuss," Suigetsu mumbled, gaining a glare from Tsubaki.

"Just because you're bloodthirsty doesn't mean everyone here has to be, Suigetsu-kun."

The kappa shook his head but looked away.

"You two are too soft… just like the hime."

Juugo suddenly growled, his gaze snapping towards the swordsman.

"Don't talk bad about Sakura-chan. If it wasn't for her you'd still be stuck in a lab."

The silence that followed his words hurt Tsunade's ears as Team Kakashi stared at the three in open shock.

"Sakura?"

The Uchiha's voice hovered uncertainly in the air, incredulous yet hopeful.

"Yes… Sakura-sama saved all of us." Tsubaki looked down, her eyes closing. "I was taken from my home years ago and taken to Otogakure as a slave. My father was a ninja, so I have some chakra, and I heard Orochimaru-dono had asked or me personally. Apparently, I was to be given to Uchiha Itachi, a ninja from Konohagakure who was going to become his vessel. However, Itachi managed to overpower Orochimaru-dono and he disappeared. I remained a slave under Orochimaru-dono, helping out in the labs and bases. When Sakura-sama came, I was assigned to her. She was so kind to me even though she started to treat everyone so coldly.

"A few months into her stay, Sakura-sama went into one of the labs outside the South Base, and that's where she found Suigetsu-kun. She supplied him with fresh water once a week for the next two years almost, and all three of us made an escape plan."

Tsunade dropped her hands back onto the desk, her brown eyes piercing.

"An escape plan? You mean Sakura wanted to escape?"

"Yes and no. She hated Orochimaru-dono, but she was afraid of leaving him until she was strong enough. Sakura-sama wanted us to escape though. She wanted us to come here and talk to you…"

The Sannin nodded and then looked over at Juugo, who was once again silent and staring down at the floor solemnly.

"Where did Sakura find Juugo?"

"She didn't… I did." Tsubaki smiled over at the amber-haired man. "I was sent over to the North base and found him in there. It was my job to go once every few weeks with the supply train, so when I got back to the South base, I told Sakura-sama about him. I think she found his medical records because the next time I was going to go, she told me to try and befriend him, to tell him about her and how she had a plan to help him with his problem. It was hard, but I got Juugo-kun to believe me, and the next month I came with Sakura-sama's plans for him."

"I see… Do you know what those plans were?"

The bronze-haired girl tapped her chin thoughtfully.

"I think Sakura-sama said to me once that you, Hokage-sama, are the best medical-nin of these times. She went on and on about everything you taught her, and she was so positive that you could help Juugo-kun out. Her plan was to get him to you so you could examine him freely in an environment that he'd feel safe in. when Orochimaru-dono was close to taking her body as his vessel, she was going to free Suigetsu-kun and Juugo-kun then send them here, for help.

"Sakura-sama set me free a month ago," Tsubaki said fondly, her eyes traveling out the window. "I was supposed to wait in a small village just south of here for her and these two. I did as I was told and she showed up last night with these two –"

Suddenly the back of the room came alive, and Naruto was rushing forward, catching Tsubaki off-guard as she turned and the blonde's hands clamped onto her shoulders.

"Sakura-chan was that close?! Was she alright? Where is she now? Why isn't she here with you?"

"Dobe!"

Sasuke pulled Naruto off the stunned girl, glancing apologetically at her as the kitsune wriggled fiercely in his grip.

"Forgive him, Tsubaki-san," Tsunade whispered, catching her attention as the Uchiha slowly dragged Naruto back to where they had been.

"Oh, it's fine…"

Her eyes fixated themselves back towards Team Kakashi, suddenly somber.

"In answer to your questions, yes she seemed fine, but in pain. She was clutching her stomach a lot, but when I asked what was wrong she said that she was ok and that I shouldn't worry about her."

The struggling duo stopped dead and turned toward her, eyes dark with concern.

"She was hurt?"

Sasuke stared down at her.

"I-I think so… but there wasn't any blood or anything. Plus, she's a med-nin, so she probably just healed herself…"

The raven looked away, his jaw clenching as his fists tightened tightly into Naruto's clothes.

"Where is she?"

His voice held venom, as though almost daring her not to answer him.

Tsubaki gazed at him, at his torment.

With a sigh, her eyes closed, releasing a tear in disappointment.

"She's gone."

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(A/N: Ughness, it's so short! TTATT I'm so sorry that it's so pathetic, and so much talking… but I wanted to get something posted. I hope you all will forgive me and enjoyed it anyways. The next chappie will make up for this crappiness, I promise! T-T Until next time! R&R plz!)