Bold = Demon

Italic = thoughts

Bold Italic = Inner

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Sorry, I took so long, I finished finals on the 15th, but things just happened. My internet was taken in preparation of the laptop I got for my birthday on the 5th. So I've had no internet since around the 7th and the laptop arrived around the 12th, but the laptop had to be wiped clean for the internet to be installed. That happened on about the 17th and I got it back the 18th. So NOW, I can update with some consistency again.

Enough about my problems, so as always, please review! Now back to the story . . .

I quickly headed back to Konoha to let things move on their own until one of us intercepted an Akatsuki member. And while I was waiting, I could play matchmaker.

Temari was still in town, I hadn't been gone more than two days. I knew that she had a thing for Shikamaru and that he returned the feelings. Not that the other knew it. It would be fun setting them up.

I wandered around town looking for the two of them, Temari could be found with Sakura more often then not. Shikamaru would be with Chouji cloud-gazing. Time to confront the two of them.

I found Sakura and Temari first as I walked towards Shikamaru. I saw Temari's distinctive hairstyle and called out, "Temari! Wait up!". I quickly caught up and started walking in between the two of them. I grinned a smile that can rival Naruto in its impossible size, "Hey you two, would you mind helping me set up Naruto and Hinata? Sakura can get Naruto to where he is supposed to be and Temari can get Hinata ready.". As Temari would be busy getting Hinata ready, I could 'convince' Shikamaru to make a move.

They agreed readily, it was about time that the two of them got to together. I had found Naruto to be extremely perspective EXCEPT where Hinata is involved. Hinata would just have to out and say it. Sakura would drag Naruto to the agreed on place. I waved the two of them off before going on to Shikamaru.

I found Shikamaru to be exactly where I thought he would be in. I squatted down next to him and poked him in the forehead, "Shika, wake up. Wake up before I go to get Temari.". He must have actually been asleep because he smiled once I said Temari. I started to chuckle in a way that most have deemed to be my scheming chuckle. Shika frowned before he adopted a bored face, "Ookami-Neko, did you have to do that? That was completely uncalled for. If Ino had been there, this would be all over Konoha within minutes.". I just smiled before saying, "I have good word that Temari likes you and if you don't get off your lazy ass to ask her out, you guys will never go out. I want you guys to get together and you will get together if I have anything to do about it.".

He sighed before nodding, then I asked sweetly in a way that made him look suspiciously at me, "While you're at it, can you make sure that Naruto gets to where he is supposed to be. Sakura is taking him, but I want you to back them up just in case for some freak reason, Naruto tries to run off.".

He nodded again and I walked off, to go train by myself when the time came to fight again.

I spent several hours training and it was late when I went back to the compound. During the time I had trained with the Hyuuga's, along with learning to use the Byakugan, I could use the soft-fist style in fighting. And with the time I trained with Lee and Gai, I was a master at the steel-fist style they used. And from Tsunade, I could apply her style of melee fighting. From every person I had trained with, I could use a bit of their style to form mine. And I have. I just don't usually apply it because I like to keep my opponent on their toes because I don't have a set style. Most fighters you could predict their styles by either their reputation of the way they take a stance. I keep them guessing, but the only constant thing about my fighting style was that I like to end it quick without much foreplay. Through I have Tsunade's strength, Lee's speed, Gai's stamina, it is merely taijutsu. I can rival the Sharingan with genjutsus, but it is not my favored style. I just don't like to use them overly. In ninjutsu, I rival Kakashi with my extensive knowledge of certain styles. Fire, wind, lightning, earth, water, wood, even a bit of steel. I could use puppetry, through I laid off it most of the time. Using the fan was my preferred weapon, but katanas were a close second.

That reminded me . . . I need to talk to Kankuro about his puppet of Sasori, I need it and his heart. It could be considered treason, but I was counting on something when I meet with Deidara. And I should be getting word from Sasuke any day. Enough for tonight, I need to at least doze, I have this feeling that I'm going to need my energy soon.

When the sun rose, I went off to train some more when sometime around noon, Team Seven caught up with me.

Sakura saw the beat-up surroundings and the scratches on my arms and faces and started to heal the small cuts. Naruto stared in shock for a few minutes before yelling-talking, "Ookami-Neko did all this? By herself? Even Sakura-chan and Baa-chan don't make this much of a mess when training!". I rose an eyebrow at him, "I cause a lot of destruction during half of my training before fixing it the other half. There IS a benefit from that fight after the chuunin exams. I can fix some of the mess by regrowing the trees. And Naruto,", I said before walking close to him and poking him on the forehead, "Don't be so surprised. I can do a lot worse than this, this was mainly straight taijutsu. I don't delve into genjutsu without Kakashi or Kurenai and I prefer having a partner for my ninjutsu. This wasn't even me putting a lot of effort into it, this was going through my taijutsu routine.". Naruto stood there silent for a moment with his mouth hanging open, gaping, not able to get a word out. I snickered for a moment before looking at Yamato and Sai. I really needed to get them signed up for one of my partners, I manage to get almost every other jounin and quite a few of the ANBU to train with me, but I forget these two? Really should write out a list on ongoing projects, it would make life so much easier. Through I should sign up the Rookie 14 while I'm at it . . . or I'll have some angry shinobi after me when they find out I signed up their teammates . . . or I'll have angry shinobi signed up and grateful ones on the sidelines laughing at the beating their teammate is getting. It could go either way.

I popped my back before I put my arms around Sai and Naruto's shoulders as I walked to the hospital. Kakashi was supposed to get out today.

The five of us walk into Kakashi's room to find that he is awake and reading Icha Icha. I narrow my eyes and swip the book and started reading before I frown, "You've read this one at least five times already, don't tell me you finished the one I brought you already.". I look to my left to see Naruto and Sakura with giant sweat drops while Sai stands there confused and Yamato sighs. Then Naruto and Sakura launch into a description of how strong Sasuke has grown and Kakashi mentions a technique through more suited to Naruto, would help him to grow stronger.

I sigh and roll my eyes, "You think he can master that in six months? That took even me a good couple of months to work, through that was mainly my fault for having a little too much on my plate at the time. If you truly think he can manage it without doing something drastic, I'll help and me medic on hand for the three of you." I turned to Yamato and got him in a headlock before I continued, "And there is no way you're getting out of this, Yamato. You forget that I can turn your own signature move against you and I will if I have to.". I give him a look and he takes my three teammates away before I turn to talk to Kakashi, "There is something Yamato couldn't have told you. There is more concerning Sasuke than you know and Sasuke couldn't come back yet. He made a deal with Snake Bastard about Naruto's safety and I managed to get him a get out of jail free pass. Of course there is more and nobody will know the extent of my plan, but I plan to have quite the force to reckon with when I am done. Through now Snake Bastard is dead by my head . . . He still has to look like he is going after Itachi to kill him for my plan to work. Just make sure Naruto doesn't try to Sasuke when he finds out . . . I put way too much work in this for Naruto to mess up.". Kakashi nodded and I smile fakely at him before helping him out of bed, "I have much to do and I won't be around much when the ball starts to roll. Because when this ends, I can't promise who will come out of this alive, but I will make sure that if there are causalities, I will go down before they are serious. I WILL end this before Naruto's death, he will be a great Hokage and the world will benefit from it.". Kakashi got a sad, but resigned look in his visible eye as I made sure he got to Sakura.

We didn't mention what Kakashi knew of my plan to Yamato or the rest of Team Kakashi. I had only told Kakashi because as leader of Team Kakashi, he should know that I would disappear for periods of time that would be unexplainable otherwise. It was the sad truth, but I wouldn't deliberately lie to him. I wouldn't mention things, but I wouldn't directly lie. They didn't deserve it and I refused to do it. They may not trust me in the end, but when they knew, they would understand. Better to be thought committing treason than the enemy know my plan. I would be righting wrongs and protecting lives, and if I ruined mine in the process, so be it. It was that important.

I left the group as they were all distracted, that feeling that I would need my energy was stronger. I didn't like the feeling, but I had learned to trust it years ago when on the run. Out of the shadows comes a civilian with a package and news, "The 12 guardians of Fire are falling and one is residing in our mist. Two of the Akatsuki are in the country killing one of the 12. Here, take this. It is the latest black market bingo book.". I nod and he disappears back into the shadows without a trace. It had been a long time since I had gotten word from the Underworld, some high-ups in Konoha must not be happy with the 12 guardians falling. The guardians of Fire are recognizable by the symbol of the fire country on a loincloth, so who in Konoha has one . . . Shit! Asuma . . .

I curse heavily before rushing off to find Tsunade, I needed to be sent out with Asuma on the next couple of missions not only for Asuma's sake, but this was the perfect chance to take care of two Akatsuki. Asuma couldn't die yet, if I was right about Kurenai being pregnant, he would be a father and he should be there for that. From I knew of the Akatsuki, only one was obsessed with money and would do side-jobs like this to get it.

I jumped through her window, landing in front of Tsunade. I looked to my right to see that only Shizune is the only one in the room and I throw the bingo book on Tsunade's desk in front of her. She frowns at it for a moment before I flip it open to the 12 guardians when she gets it, "Asuma.". I nod and she sends Shizune to go get some sake, "Two Akatsuki are going after the 12 guardians for money as a side-job, and Asuma is a target. I'm not sure if I am in that book, but assign me to protection detail on Asuma until I take care of the two Akatsuki.". I stares at me for a moment before leaning forward, "What about Naruto? Even you won't be able to defend two people at the same time if something happens.". I look at her for a moment, "Naruto will come first, but if he comes along, send him after Asuma in the same general direction within a day's travel. I can take care of the two then, but I would prefer Naruto being here if anything happened, not that he would.". She nods and waves me off before she starts to look through the black market bingo book. I see her sweat drop for a moment and I can imagine that it is her own picture staring back at her with her gambling debts.

I walk back to the compound, to wait for the time I would be sent out with Asuma. It can only be so long . . .