Chapter Twenty One: Truths Revealed

Tsunade-san never would have imagined living to see the day in which all the kages gathered to discuss a true shinobi alliance. One in which all nations were allied, in which there was no war, and in which there was no needless blood shed. It was a bittersweet moment (more sweet than bitter thankfully) and one she was glad for. Jeriaya had always ranted, swore to hell and back that Naruto Uzamaki was going to be the one to unite everyone; that if there was one shinobi in all of the world that would be able to pull it off, then it was him.

Yes, Naruto Uzamaki was a knuckle head, he was childish in more ways than what was acceptable for someone his age and for someone with his status; but he was good at getting people together. It was a charisma that Tsunade had known would help him in leading Konoha, one that would serve him well, and above all else one that would help him make all the changes needed to better Konoha; and rid it of the annoying elders who were stuck in the past. Which, of course, he'd done beautifully when they'd had the meeting discussing Uchiha Itachi's status and Uchiha Izakura's mission.

Upon arriving, Sakura and Itachi had been met with yelling and screaming. Granted they'd been expecting it to be loud and tense, something both Sakura and Itachi had been predicting, but it was still calm by other standards. Sighing Tsunade stepped up when Naruto walked in, stood at his left, and prepared herself. Getting through to the kage of stone, grass and lightning was going to be a difficult task. Thankfully, Izakura—her apprentices daughter—had convinced Sand, Mist, and Leaf. Half down, rest to go.

"What's a boy doing calling on real leaders?" The Tsuchikage growled angrily.

"I've called for a submit because of the pending danger heading all of our way. There is…"

"There is a rumor that you—as well as Sand and Mist—are plotting to join Akatsuki. Is it true?"

"We have a kunoichi who's managed to negotiate with the leader of Akatsukj. She…"

"Who is this kunichi? Where is she?" The Tsuchikage demanded. Frowning Naruto turned to Sakura, all the while with a plea in his eyes. Nodding, Sakura took a step forward when her Hokage made it clear that he would allow her to speak.

"My daughter followed her father after discovering that Uchiha Itachi was no traitor. A Konoha elder, Danzo, betrayed him and…"

"You expect us to relay on the word of a child? What's more, your…"

"Before you finish that sentence Tsuchikage, I'd like to remind you that, that "child" saved your top ANBU Captains hide before she even graduated from the academy." Sakura hissed, causing Hikari to step forward and growl. Meanwhile Itachi, in his mind, allowed himself to gasp.

He'd known that his daughter was powerful, that she'd began her training in the medical field as young as he had started when he'd started learning how to kill. However, he hadn't been expecting for her to have had such experience as a field medic before she graduated from the academy let alone while still a Genin. Truly she was a prodigy, one who would surpass him within the next year if her training continued at the pace in which she had been going. However now that they were being forced into battle, to go against their true enemy, he was sure that her abilities were only going to excel.

It was clear to Sakura, Itachi, the hokage—and pretty much everyone else in the room—that the large tiger was ready to speak on her mistress's behalf, to defend her family, her home, and above all else her honor. However, before the tiger could begin her lecture the scent of blood caught her attention and so she focused on her prides shared sight. Instantly she could see Rage defending two of Izakura's fallen teammates, hear V roar along side Kisame of the Mist and knew that they had little time to act. Someone in the organization, the puppet master as it were, had finally made his move and they'd done so knowing that her mistress had run out of time.

Wrapping her tail around Sakura's wrist, Hikari summoned Itachi to her and leaned into his touch. Instantly both shinobi's eyes widened at what they saw, at the realization that the culprit, the traitor in Akatsuki, had made his move sooner than what had been expected. Cursing Sakura turned to face her hokage; regulations or not, her daughter was out numbered, her team was down for the count, and she'd be damned if she wasn't going to go in and personally kill the bastards trying to claim not only her comrades lives; but the life of her daughter as well. Meanwhile Itachi tensed, he tried not to take off at a run knowing that if he left the kunoichi behind then she'd add him to her dismember list. An experience that he rather not feel first hand at the hands of the woman he was attracted to.

"I need my team, she's in battle."

"Who?"

"What the hell are you…" the Tsuchikage started again but before he could finish Hikari's roar stopped him.

"You men squabble and gable like infants while a child steps in to do your work."

"And just who do you…"

"My name is Hikari of the Silver Pack; Izakura Haruno Uchiha-samas summoning animal. That child, as you so eloquently called my mistress—is in battle. She is fighting to guarantee you and your villages safety, and she is doing so against all of Akatsuki!" Hikari snarled while taking a slow, predatory step forward.

It was the first time Sakura had ever heard true malice in Hikari's tone of voice. Tough the tigers words had been welcomed. All ready Sakura's stance had switched, she'd withdrawn her weapon and without realizing it had taken Itachi's hand. Yes, a faint, subconscious part of her was finally admitting to herself how she felt; but given her daughters status she would make sure to keep it to herself. Her daughter would always come first, regardless of the sacrifice that she as a woman would have to make.

"How do we…" the Tsuchikage began to challenge when all of a sudden a vision appeared before them. It was essentially a genjutsu, one that allowed the performer to share a memory or sight with them. It could be done from mind to mind, or as in this instant it could be projected. Gasping all the kage's began to mumble while the Hokage to the village hidden in the leafs turned to his best friend, teammate, and sister.

"Take Kakashi-san and anyone else you need. Go."

"Hai, thanks hokage-sama…and good luck." Sakura whispered before turning to her mentor and teacher. She'd had the seal set from year two of her training. Like her sensei Sakura knew she had access to a larger than normal amount of chakra. The risk of activating the seal was there, but she knew how to control it, how to draw all that chakra out slowly and without harm.

"Only as a last resort." She sighed. Sadly smiling Sakura bowed a formal thank you to her mentor and teacher before turning to the exit.

"What you've seen is what is, if you've anything else to challenge elders, take it up with the Hokage-sama." Hikari hissed before turning and following after her mistress's mother and father.

Once outside the tent, Sakura handed Itachi all of his weapons while producing a summoning scroll. Upon activating it, Kakashi, Sai, Sasuke, and Shikamaru appeared in a cloud of smoke. Sai at first looked annoyed, but when he saw his captains serious, and worried, expression he put his brush away and set his headband into place. Meanwhile Shikarmaru and Kakashi looked the Uchiha heir up and down.

"Sakura, what…"

"Sasuke, I need you to stay at Naruto's side. No matter what, you don't leave him, got it?"

"If she's in trouble I want to…"

"You swore you'd protect Naruto in an effort to make up for everything you did; was that a lie?"

"No, but I can't let you…"

"I'm not a child anymore Sasuke, and what's more is that I'm your ranking officer. Either you listen or I send you to the hospital. I don't have time to argue."

"Hn." Was his hesitant, and only, response before he walked into the tent. Sighing Sakura then turned to her teammates and slipped her gloves on.

"Izakura and her team have been betrayed by the true snake of Akatsuki. This isn't going to be an easy mission and given that it's more personal than anything I'm giving you guys the choice. Follow me and risk dying; or stay and protect Naruto."

"Just lead the way." The three said in unison. Smiling Sakura turned and looked to Hikari, whom with a nod turned and took off at record speed. No one would hurt her mistress. She would see to it that those who had acted against her, the one who had attempted to take her life would pay with his in return.

"Seriously, you Haruno women are so troublesome." Shikimaru sighed while the group ran and kept pace with the tiger.

"What should we expect from our opponents?" Kakashi asked and caused everyone to turn to the Uchiha heir. Though it was clear that the akatsuki was about to come to an end, he still wore the ring; and with it still on he was unable to reveal any of his so called comrades weaknesses.

"The ring binds you, doesn't it?" Hikari asked before shaking her head and then going into a detailed break down of all of the organizations members and their weak points. When she was done Itachi tensed.

"How…"

"We would never have allowed our mistress to be surrounded by the enemy without information on the organization as a whole, and the individuals who make up that whole. As a pride we all have our specialties; mine do not simply lay in the medical field." Was all the tiger said before the group continued their run in silence.

Stay safe Izakura, I'm coming to you honey. Sakura thought determinedly, all the while keep pacing on her left while Itachi stayed on the right.

~POV Change~

As soon as Izakura walked into the office she knew that Pein was going to insist on her accompanying them to the summit meeting while her team stayed behind to watch their suspects. What was more was that Izakura refused to leave her teammates behind; that included Kisame of course. He was her fathers back up, the only one whom he trusted, and the one who would fight along side him when they were ready to go after and kill the one who'd not only injured her father but who had attempted to kill her.

Meanwhile, Izakura's team was led to Kisame's room, the make shift office they were working out of and taking turns keeping watch. The rest of the Akatsuki members had been instructed to stay on base, to keep quiet until everything had been figured out and a plan had been devised. A plan that was being left in the hands of their leader and a medic who was barely old enough to even be considered a genin let alone an expert in her field. Which was why Neji had insisted that the rogue from the mist, Kisame, take them to their holding cells so that he and his team could stand guard. At least they would until Kisame had gotten something to eat and was ready to continue his line of questioning.

Over all, the discussion with Pein had not been what Izakura had been expecting. Instead of making an appearance herself, she was to act as guard for himself and Konan; she was to have her team fight along side her in order to protect them while at the summit. One in which they had not been invited to. It was also a feat that was sure to prove to be more than just challenging. However, what was most frustrating of all was that she would have to put her search for her fathers attacker on hold. Risk the possibility of the traitor to escape.

"Your sensei and teammates are guarding the holding cells, Kisame is on his way to release them. What has been decided."

"I'm to go to the summit along side Pein and Konan. My team will accompany me but I need to decide who to leave behind." Izakura sighed as she went to her shelf and set poisoned throwing spikes into her hair. So far everything was calm, but she knew just how quickly chaos could rise and her enemies would take advantage of it.

"Then it appears that I will be present longer than presumed. You will need to release us all; do you have the chakra child?" Miasumi said the instant that Izakura walked into her room.

"I should, first I…" but before Izakura could finish she felt the tension in the air, smelled the bloodlust and ran in the direction of her team. All the while slicing her hand and releasing Masumi from her partial summoning.

Halfway to her team however, Izakura was stopped by several rogue, misfits and hired traitors that akatsuki used to do the majority of their lower ranking missions. All of whom surrounded her and paled when Masumi roared a warning against the men. Though they were criminals, it was clear that they knew their place in the world, that they recognized the power in her and would not underestimate her.

"We…yea we're out. Sorry about that."

"Before you go, who hired you to take me out?" Izakura demanded and when the men didn't answer she nodded in Masumi's direction. Instantly the men were bound in place and the tiger was slowly approaching them.

Meanwhile Izakura made her way to her team, noticed that they were knocked out, and her sensei had been poisoned. Sighing he extracted the poison and withdrew an antidote from her pouch. Once they were stabilized she teleported them back to Kisame's room.

"Stay here, get what information you can out of them, I need to go make sure that Kisame is ok." Izakura ordered before running out of the basement.

She didn't meant to be rude, and she knew that Masumi knew it too. However, she was worried. For a while now she had been sensing several hidden chakra's prowling around the compound and with her team knocked out she didn't want to risk it. Unconscious ninja were liable to be killed when resting and left with no guard. Given that said group of ninja was her team, Izakura was damned if she was going to let them die.

Sadly, halfway to their room, Izakura was forced to jump out of a window and dodge the rain of kunai that had been directed at her. All of which were coated in poisons and sedatives. Annoyed with the small fry, Izakura spun around and was getting ready to make some sort of pun before ending the shinobi's life, but froze and placed even more distance between herself and her opponent. The man and would be "child" of akatsuki, Tobi.

"Should have known, it's always the more innocent ones that end up being the biggest scum." Izakura hissed while dodging yet another ray of knives and needles. Smiling at the child's antics, the rogue stopped his attack and snapped his fingers. Immediately they were surrounded.

"Looks like you're older than you appear to be. Huh, guess the help is understandable, an old man like…"

"Silence! Enough of your pointless ranting." The masked wearing rogue growled and with his words causing the rogue to attack.

Without hesitation Izakura let go of her control, she let go of her reservations and let her anger take over. Instantly her eyes were sharingan bright, revealing the rogue's moves and assisting her in quickly and effectively killing the rogue off one by one. However, no matter how many she killed, what she did, or the direction in which she ran, they didn't seem to be dwindling down. No matter what, it seemed as if though the rogue attacking her were from a never ending supply.

"It doesn't matter how many of them you kill, more are still to come."

"Why are they so willing to die for you? Why aren't they running?!" Izakura screamed while releasing a large, powerful, and lethal wind jutsu. Immediately the rogue around her were swept into the air, impaled by the needles that had been used against her and then slammed against the ground.

"My my, and so powerful too. It really is a shame you weren't born before that father of yours. Maybe then this wouldn't have taken so long." Tobi taunted while throwing out an attack of his own and laughing as a lost katana flew through him.

When Izakura had thrown it she had thought for sure she'd get him, that with his lack of concentration and distraction, that she had hit him. Her next move had been planed, had been halfway into effect when Izakura had to cut off her chakra from her hands and flip into the air to avoid the small knife that was halfway to her gut.

"What do you know of my father and his clan? You…"

"They lost their way. Should have listened to me before allowing that…that fool to become hokage! I should have take over, should still be leading that pathetic of a village." The masked man snarled while stomping forward.

Without thought Izakura took a kunai to the arm and shattered the mask the man had been wearing. Underneath it, she didn't find the young hidden Uchiha she had been thinking she would. No, she found the face of a man who she believed to be long dead. Who the village thought long gone, and who had been the reason why her father's family had long since carried his hatred. He had been one of the first leaders of the Uchiha clan, had been a force to be reckoned with, and a man who should have died long ago. Yet still he existed, lived, and fought to make a nightmare come true. One that would not only destroy her home, but the entire world as well.

"Now, why don't you just listen like a good little girl and…"

"Never." Izakura hissed while dodging the on coming attack and noticing how the kunai she send phased through the man's body.

Well, this is going to be a pain in the ass. Izakura mentally sighed while taking to the trees and setting a trap into place. All the while taking down as many rogue as she could.

A/N: So, so so, sooooooo sorry it's been a long while since I've updated. I know, and honestly with moving from one city to a new one, and work and what not I just neglected my writing. Not anymore though! I will update weekly until this fic is finished. Here's the first chapter of the weekly updates to come. Enjoy and please, don't forget to Read and Review! xD