Chapter 24

Akari jumped from tree to tree. She followed two other A.N.B.U as they chased after a pair of rogue ninja. The enemy wasn't far ahead and they would be on them in moments. Once that happened it was there job to dispose of them.

"There's a river up ahead. Speed it up so that we reach them before they cross it." The squad leader ordered.

She quickened her step and soon they saw their targets. She stopped and let her team make the first move. She stood in the trees and watched. She didn't need to be down there. She was only back up. It was a good thing too because her mind was elsewhere. Not only had Naruto and the others come back empty handed and seriously injured, but her sister still hadn't returned from her mission. It had been a weeks since she was sent out. Riko and Akari were extremely worried.

Akari noticed someone sneaking up behind her companion. Without thinking she jumped down and rushed at the third enemy. There weapons clashed as they began their battle. She went with the motions, her heart not really in it. Not long after, her katana met its mark slicing through her opponent's neck. He fell, a bloody mess, at her feet.

"So there was a third one. Our information was a little hazy so we weren't sure."

"Good thing we brought the Kid with us."

Akari nodded in response. Normally she would have been offended for being called a kid but she didn't mind anymore. It had become a term of endearment among her fellow A.N.B.U. Kneeling at the water's edge, she wiped away as much of the blood as she could. Her teammates bagged the bodies to be returned to the village. They would be disposed of safely there.

As she stood she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see her squad leader at her side.

"You can't be distracted on missions like this Kid. It these guys had been A Rank material you would've lost. I know you're worried but you need to be careful. As an A.N.B.U you can't let personal issues effect you're work." He told her.

She couldn't see his face because of the mask, but she knew he was concerned from his voice. He was right of course. She needed to harden herself and worry on her own free time.

"Thank you Tenzo. I'll do better, I promise." She assured him.

"It's fine. It's not easy being one of us. You'll learn." Yugao said behind her. "Now will you two stop slacking and help with the bodies."

Akari smiled to herself and went to her friend. They placed the bodies side by side.

"Alright. Make this easier on us Kid." Tenzo said.

She nodded and brought her right thumb to her mouth. In one swift movement she drew blood. Quickly she molded her chakra with hand seals. Boar. Dog. Bird. Monkey. Ram. Then she brought her hand down on the ground.

"Summoning Technique!" She cried out.

Smoke appeared in front of her. Once it cleared there stood a giant cheetah. It didn't resemble a normal one though. This one had a rusty color with black spots. Almost red. It wore a bandana on its neck with the Leaf symbol. It wasn't originally loyal to Konoha but Akari had brought him around.

"What is it you want girl." He said as he licked his paw.

"Drop the attitude Shun, I need you to carry these bodies back to the village for me." She walked up to him.

"The dead ones? How unappealing." He sniffed. Then he noticed the others.

"They won't be riding with us will they?"

"Don't be rude! But no, just me." She rolled her eyes.

Shun nodded. Though he didn't like the idea he lowered himself to allow them to place the bodies. Once they were secure, Akari climbed up. She waved a quick goodbye as Shun sprinted home. A journey that would've taken hours took only minutes. As they reached the village she made sure Shun didn't step on anything or anyone important. She got quite a few stares.

Once they reached the A.N.B.U corps, she jumped down and slid the bodies to the ground. Shun shook himself in disgust. Then he began licking himself clean.

"Next time you summon me can it be something a little less disgusting." He scowled.

"Yeah, Yeah. You know you enjoy our meetings." She smiled at him.

"Oh please. You're lucky I haven't eaten you." He scoffed. Though he smiled slightly.

Akari grinned at him before sending him home. A few A.N.B.U came and retrieved the bodies. Now that her mission was complete she went to find Riko. She didn't need to. As soon as she got home she was summoned to the Hokage's office. Riko was there as well. Lady Tsunade didn't waste any time.

"I'm sending you to retrieve your sister. I sent her to find an informant who was hiding in the Land of Water. It seems she got to close to the Hidden Mist. We lost contact with her."

Riko gave Akari a worried glance. She had yet to remove her mask so she only nodded. This wasn't good. They needed to find her quick and bring her home. The Hidden Mist were ruthless. Lady Tsunade gave them a map of the route Mizuko took. Akari was still geared up so she went ahead to the front gate while her brother prepared. She saw many of her friends. They stared at her as she arrived. She nodded and went to stand outside to wait. Before long Naruto made his way to her.

"Akari?" He whispered.

She only nodded.

"I thought that was you. I wasn't sure with the mask. Are you going on a mission?"

Again she nodded. She had learned to keep silent and give no hint of who she was. She had made the mistake of removing her mask on her first mission and was reprimanded for it. An A.N.B.U's identity was better kept a secret. It was a good thing only a few of her friends knew.

"Us too. We're going to help Gaara and his siblings rescue his student. Were kinda returning the favor you know." He told her.

She did know. The Hidden Sand had come to their rescue when the Sasuke Retrieval mission had gone south. She still didn't know how she felt about the outcome. Some of her friends had nearly died. Shikamaru had blamed himself. Not to mention Sasuke and Naruto nearly killed each other. It was all very stressful.

"Naruto! Let's go!" Shikamaru yelled.

Naruto waved goodbye and followed their friends. A few nodded in her direction. She gave a small wave as Riko appeared at her side.

"Time to go on our own mission." He muttered.

"Were gonna bring her home." She assured him.

She knew he'd be annoyed but she summoned Shun anyways. They needed to get the Land of Water quickly. Once he understood he allowed them to mount him and raced to find their sister. Moments later they made it into the Land of Water. Shun offered to help but having a giant cheetah would draw to much attention. They traveled the rest on foot.

"A two days journey completed in minutes. Very convenient." Riko muttered.

The two of them followed the route their sister had taken. A few hours later they made it to a small village. It seemed abandoned.

"It's literally a few leagues from the Hidden Mist. Do you think its part of their territory?" Akari asked.

"More than likely. Where is everyone?" He asked.

Akari activated her sharingan.

"There are no villager's but there are three ninja holed up in that building over there. One is Mizuko!" She told him.

Silently they made their way toward them. Keeping in the shadows they managed to sneak up under a window. They heard voices.

"It's not here! This is so stupid. How are we supposed to find the Three Tails?" A man said.

"Shut it Hidan! We were ordered to search this place so we did."

"Yeah and all we found was a meddling Leaf brat!"

Akari knew who they were dealing with. This wouldn't be easy. She motioned for Riko to prepare himself. They would have to take them by surprise. She knew they couldn't win but they could at least run. Akari made the Tiger hand seal.

"Body Flicker Technique." She mumbled.

In seconds she was behind her sister untying her hands. Riko burst through the window with water clones to distract the Akatsuki members. It was no use. They dispatched them with ease.

"Look Kakazu! More brats!" The one called Hidan cackled.

"We need to go." She whispered to Mizuko who nodded in understanding.

Akari supported her sister as they burst through the nearest window. Riko followed close behind.

"Why are we running? Who are they?" He asked.

"People we don't want to mess with." Mizuko grunted.

They tried their hardest to run but they didn't get far. The men caught up to them easily.

"We can't let her leave. She heard too much because my idiot partner couldn't keep his mouth shut." Said Kakazu.

They stared at them with killing intent. Akari has never been scared before. At least not as much as she was now. These guys were monsters. The one called Hidan kept licking his lips in anticipation. Slowly she lowered her sister to the floor and prepared herself. Riko did the same.

"We might not all make it." She muttered. He only nodded.

Together they did their best against their enemy. It got them nowhere. They were beat and tossed around like rag dolls. No matter how hard they tried. In the moments that followed Riko was sliced in the back by Hidan. He fell to the floor in agony. If she didn't get him home, he wouldn't make it. Mizuko was kneeling nearby. She was too weak to help. Akari had to do something fast.

"Dance of the Crescent Moon!"

Somehow it met its mark. Kakazu was thrown back unprepared. Hidan was surprised and left himself open. She pulled out her Katana.

"Body Flicker Technique."

She smiled as she felt her katana pierce his heart. She had done it! She had killed him!

"Mizuko! No!" Riko screamed.

What? She turned to her brother who was trapped. Kakazu had a foot on his back holding him down. She looked for her sister. Mizuko had blood pouring from her mouth. A wound appeared on her chest. Slowly Akari stared up at Hidan. Her weapon was clearly impaled in his chest yet he lived. Hidan's face was now white and grinning wildly at her. Some type of circle had formed at his feet. Then it dawned on her.

"Oops! You killed your sister!" He laughed hysterically.

He then kicked her in the stomach sending her flying. She landed roughly inches from her sister. Mizuko fell to the floor lifeless, eyes open. Akari was frozen in shock.

"Hidan lets go. Well leave them for the others to finish off." Kakazu said.

The two Akatsuki left them their as other rogue ninja appeared. Akari sobbed on the ground muttering to herself. Riko was slowly picking himself up making his way to them.

"Akari! We have to go! They'll kill us too." He groaned.

"I killed her. I killed her. Mizuko. I killed her." She mumbled.

"Akari!" He yelled.

That's when it happened. Her eyes shifted and everything went red. In a total rage she pulled herself up and charged the attackers. She showed no mercy. Akari cut them down one by one. Not a single one of them could touch her. She made short work of them. Once she was finished she wanted more. More blood. More deaths. Everyone would pay! Blood splattered her body and pools of it where on the ground around her. Bodies were piled up where she had taken their lives. A small smile played on her lips.

Fatigue hit her hard. The last thing she saw was Riko holding Mizuko's body in sorrow. He rocked their sister as if he was putting her to sleep. The world went dark and Akari fell.