Part 2

Chapter 5

Sayomi's POV

Current location: Sunagakure

It took me three days and exactly two nights to reach Suna. Upon reaching it I was met with a different Suna than I remembered. Sunagakure was an incredibly fortified village, even if you didn't take the desert surrounding it as an extra measure against possible attacks. The village was inside a valley, cliffs of rock around it reminding me of rocky mountains around Iwagakure. Iwa had higher mountains, harder to pass through, but once you did you could walk straight into the village. Suna's cliffs were easier to climb on, and they countered that problem with guards everywhere and only one entrance – a single cleft between two cliff faces.

I knew the passage collapsed. I've been hearing about it for a while now, from all kinds of people. But I severely underestimated how big of a change the collapse caused. Sure, they had enough time to clear the whole thing out, which they did, but they couldn't fix the cliffs completely. It looked better now that the passage was back in function but the after-effects of the whole ordeal were impossible to overlook.

For example, the passage was now wider than before, the cliff faces in its proximity lower than the rest. The whole front part, where the guards were usually stationed, wasn't there anymore, though it did look like they were working to get it back. Once I entered the village I was met with a pile of stones and boulders extracted from the passage, making me gawk even more than I already was.

But what really messed with my head happened a day later. I was making my way to a restaurant near the Kazekage's office, brainstorming real hard about my next step. I needed to find out what happened here, why was the Kazekage missing, and what or who caused the collapse of the entrance. The real problem was that my two trusted methods I usually used to acquire information had been temporarily terminated. I doubted I'd be able to sneak up on someone or even overhear drunk guards spilling info any time soon, and definitely not with their Kazekage still missing.

Everything was seemingly solved once I saw a man passing in front of me, wearing a green Kazekage hat. I came to a halt, looking at the red attire of the Kazekage and the two guards going after him. One of them was a man dressed in black, purple paint on his face, while the other one was a pale-blond girl with a fan on her back. She was telling something to the Kazekage and a lot of people on the street stopped with what they were doing, smiling and bowing to the kage and his entourage.

I remained standing there, following the trio with my eyes and questioning every bit of info I overheard in a last week or so. Kazekage was supposed to be missing. Every single person claimed he was missing. What was he doing here, casually strolling through the village?

Have I lost my mind?

No, I was positive everyone said missing. As if, unexpectedly left the village with no one knowing the reason. If it were an official trip of some sort, people would have told me so. Missing in my brain meant something suspicious came into play, with the Akatsuki being my best guess.

Was I too rash? Maybe I completely misunderstood the entire thing.

Feeling completely confused and disappointed at myself I went to eat. I was on my third spicy yakitori when I told myself I knew the whole thing was a stretch ever since I set my course to Suna. I'll continue with my plan regardless of it being connected to the Akatsuki or not.

But just like I predicted, not a lot of shinobi were in the restaurants, and those who were didn't get drunk. I didn't find out anything from them, and I knew they won't be talking about such a sketchy topic any time soon. They were mostly talking about being tired from cleaning out the passage, but didn't go into more detail about it. Over the course of the evening it became clear to me I'll have to employ drastic measures in order to uncover what exactly happened here. Everyone was secretive about it, so I had to risk it a bit more.

My next idea was to search for the official report about the collapse. I knew they had to write one, and it was just a question about it being written or not. Thankfully, I could navigate between shinobi offices in Suna better than I could in Iwa, all because I investigated them all the first time I visited the village. I couldn't visualize the exact interior of each and every one of them, but I did vaguely remember their locations. It took me a couple of hours but around five in the morning I found the correct place. It was a circular room in Kazekage's building, with bookshelves containing scrolls with missions, assignments, and current Suna agenda. It looked like a library, but it wasn't their official library. That was in a whole other building.

Yeah it was kinda stupid to infiltrate Kazekage's building so soon after the collapse, but I couldn't think of a better way to find out what interested me. And frankly I was tired of not knowing anything.

The room was dark and empty, with the table in the middle of the room littered with brushes, scrolls, documents, and a candle. I lit the candle, taking the first scroll on my left.

It was a deciphered message, the stamp on it belonging to Fifth Hokage. I narrowed my eyes, reading the contents of the message. Something about sending a backup team lead by Guy to assist the search party. I picked up the other scroll, also stamped by the Fifth Hokage, but pre-dating the first one, where it said she deployed Kakashi's team to help Suna.

So, it seems Suna was in such a state they required not one but two Konoha teams to help them.

I looked at the rest of the documents. One was a list of herbs and some medical liquids, with instructions on how to mix an antidote. Stapled to it was analysis of chemical compounds of a poison. I furrowed my brows at it, questioning what that had to do with anything. My question was answered soon enough, when I picked up a medical carton of a jonin named Kankuro. Turns out he was the one poisoned and then saved by the antidote.

The name was familiar but I couldn't remember why, so I continued to sift through the documents. And that's when it really got interesting. There was a hump of ninja files by the edge of the table. Top two proved to be the most interesting, with one belonging to a kunoichi named Chiyo, and the other to one and only; Sasori of the Red Sand. The ink was fresh on both files, marking both of them as deceased. But that's not all it said. Chiyo's file said she wasn't killed but died as a result of a kinjutsu. On top of the file was a signed document by the Kazekage himself to give a special posthumous title to her.

Sasori's file finally confirmed to me that he was a member of the Akatsuki. It also said Chiyo and Konoha's search party were the ones who killed him. The rest of the stacked files belonged to deceased Suna shinobi, but the exact reason for their death wasn't written, except for the Defence Captain named Yura; his file said he'd been killed by the Kazekage.

I could see all these things fit into a bigger picture, one that could tell me what exactly happened here, but so far I was missing the middle piece. Whatever happened with the Kazekage and with the passage had to be linked to Sasori. That much I could deduce. Though I couldn't tell if he was the sole perpetrator or even if he attacked them of his own volition. He could have done so under Akatsuki's orders, but him being ex-Suna shinobi also had to be taken into consideration. Who knows how much grudge he held against the village.

There was one more document left on the table, and I moved the brush from the bundle of papers covered in neat handwriting. It was the official report, the thing I was looking for in the first place.

The first two pages shed some light on the events.

Everything began when Kankuro, Kazekage's older brother, entered the kage's office and found Sasori of the Red Sand abducting unconscious Kazekage. There were no signs of fighting but Defence Captain Yura was found dead in the office, crushed to death by Kazekage's signature jutsu. Kankuro tried to stop him but was poisoned by Sasori's poison and succumbed to its symptoms, not managing to stop Sasori from taking the Kazekage with him or to alert a unit to do so in his behalf. He is the one who confirmed the perpetrator was Sasori, and that he was dressed in a black robe with a red cloud pattern. Sasori managed to leave the village without being seen, and take Kazekage to Akatsuki's hideout in the Land of Rivers.

I furrowed my brows. A hideout in the Land of Rivers you say. It seems I'll have to go and check it out.

The report continued, saying they found Kankuro after the explosion collapsed the entrance to Suna.

I pinched the bridge of my nose, closing my eyes.

The first thought that crossed my mind when I saw the crumbled passage was the extent of destructive power it'd take to do such a thing. Someone like Kitsuchi or Akatsuchi could have easily done it. They'd clap their hands and take it down without even breaking a sweat.

Someone with Bakuton wouldn't even need to clap their hands.

That's what I didn't want to think about. I didn't want to even consider it. I knew it was highly probable he could have taken that whole passage down, but I didn't want to get disappointed once I find out it wasn't him.

I went back to reading, but it didn't say what caused the explosion nor who triggered it. It definitely was an explosion, because everyone in the village heard it, and a couple of guards even saw it. That's what prompted them to go search for the Kazekage in the first place. And that's when they found out he was missing, Yura was dead, and Kankuro was within an inch of life. They sent a request for backup to Konoha, refraining from sending more Suna shinobi after the perpetrator because of what had been done to Kankuro. Konoha medic nin managed to concoct an antidote for Kankuro and save his life, before beginning their pursuit. They tracked Sasori to a hideout in Land of Rivers, finding him experimenting with sedatives on the kage's dead body. Half of the team searched the area for potential Akatsuki backup, and the rest took care of Sasori, in the end killing him. The Kazekage had its jinchuuriki extracted from him, but was brought to life by Chiyo-sama in exchange for her life. The Kazekage has no memories of the attack or the extraction, which they suspect is the result of sedatives Sasori injected him with.

Well, nothing pointed to Deidara being behind the explosion, but I couldn't think of anything that could be as powerful as his Bakuton while also being explosive. Like I said, if it were written that a Doton technique took it down, I wouldn't even blink, but an explosion of that caliber couldn't be done with explosive tags. I mean, it could, but maybe a thousand of them exploding simultaneously.

I bit my lip. Maybe someone passed through the entrance, going after the Kazekage and thus triggering the explosion and the collapse. I couldn't be sure because files of the shinobi guarding the passage didn't specify what was the cause of their death. I suspected it wasn't the explosion, because they would have written it already, but I still couldn't cross it out completely.

The light in the room slowly changed while I was in there, and right now I could make out the bookshelves, bathed in the light of the approaching morning. Not long and the sun will rise. I managed to snoop over everything in peace and I tried not to gloat too much about it. Despite Kazekage being kidnapped by Sasori only recently, I had no trouble breaking in their offices. And I did so twice so far.

I would have made a good spy. If I ever see Rin again I'll have to thank her for training me as good as she did.

I was about to blow the candle out when I noticed one scroll rolled under the table. I was positive nothing fell while I was in the room, so I knelt down to take a look at it.

It was another message, but this one wasn't from the Hokage.

An organisation by the name of Akatsuki has been steadily growing its reputation and expanding its ranks. Its members are S-rank missing nin, with two confirmed members being Itachi Uchiha of Konohagakure and Kisame Hoshigaki of Kirigakure. All members wear a black cloak with a red cloud pattern, and that is so far the safest way to confirm whether someone belongs in the organisation in question. Although its end goal is unknown, there is a great degree of certainty they are going after the bijuu. I advise all Defence Captains to undertake proper measures considering Akatsuki's threat.

Konohagakure's Sannin, Jiraiya.

I almost hit the table with my head once I read the signed name at the end of the message. I became absolutely livid, blowing out the candle and leaving the room.

Two years ago, when I left Kirigakure and set my course to Sunagakure, I took a pit stop in a small village in Land of Fire closest to the shore. I sat down in a restaurant filled with merchants and farmers, with my cloak off and headband hidden; taking my time to read the book I bought in Kirigakure, the one that became my most useful possession.

And that's when I met him.

"Aah, I see you're enjoying in one of my literary works, young lady." I looked up, being taken aback by this man approaching me. No one approached me before and I couldn't remember when I actually talked with anyone if it wasn't for the sake of acquiring info.

"Your literary works?" I asked, looking at a white-haired man in a green kimono, two red lines coming from his eyes and down to his chin. He seemed old, not as old as Onoki-sensei, but not that young either. He pointed to the back of the book and I turned the page, seeing writer on the photograph was the same guy who now took a seat in front of me.

"Jiraiya, was it?" I read and he grinned, looking at my cup.

"Who drinks green tea so late at night?" He asked before calling the server. "Can I get a bottle of sake here?" And in a second he was pouring me a glass. I tapped on the table, having a feeling it won't be easy to excuse myself, but also how he didn't seem like a real threat. So I went along with it.

"I haven't seen that book in a while. Where'd you find it?" I tapped my fingers on the table. "In Kirigakure. It was on clearance."

"That book always had poor sales. But you should check out my other books, they are an absolute hit!" He raised his cup in the air and I followed with a "Kanpai!"

"What are they called?"

"The series is called Icha Icha." He winked at me, pouring me another shot of sake. Dear goodness.

"Now, what is a pretty girl like you doing in a place like this?" I tried not to make a face. The man was maybe thrice my age, yet despite his weird statements he didn't come across as sleazy.

"I'm traveling."

"Oh, all the way from Kirigakure?"

"I'm not from Kirigakure."

"Of course you're not, I know a shinobi when I see one." My eyes widened and he burst out laughing. I even took off my headband for the sake of not being noticed.

"Am I a detective or not?" He raised his glass and I followed, not liking that he threw me off guard like that. Or that he was slowly getting me drunk.

Okay, he seemed way drunk than I was, but still.

"So, why are you traveling?" He didn't seem bad but I didn't like him being the only one asking questions.

"Why are you asking me all this?"

"I can catch a break only when my student is sleeping, and why not catch a break in such a fine company?" He grinned.

"You have a student? Does that mean you are a shinobi?" He poured me more sake and I took that as a yes.

"I told you my name, can I ask for yours?" I knew he was drunk, yet the way he switched from his flirty persona to a serious one made me doubt it. I could tell he was a bit suspicious of me but that he's decided to give me a pass regardless.

"Sayomi."

"Kanpai, Sayomi!" I drank some more, feeling warm on the inside. The longer I sit here the drunker I'll become, and that cannot end well.

"You didn't answer my question." I eyed my empty cup. "I'm looking for my friend."

"Any luck?"

"Well I'm sitting here drinking sake with you, so no." He poured me another glass and I thought; might as well.

"Listen, I'm well-versed in searching for things that aren't easy to find. The key is time."

"Time?" I thought he would give me a more useful advice.

"Nothing is untraceable but it takes a long time to find something that's valuable. Even when you think your job's done because you've found it, you have to keep protecting it."

"What are you searching for?"

"Peace." He smiled, his eyes glazed.

"Like that character of yours?" I glanced at the book. He nodded. "Until I find peace I make do with other things that come my way. Like women and drinks."

Shameless.

He raised his glass and I followed, smirk on my face as I took another shot of sake.

"You do know I'm only seventeen, right?" As if I punched him in the face. He looked at me shocked and I burst out laughing. "Wh-what? Are you sure you're only seventeen?"

It must have been a mixture of sake and that heartfelt laugh that burst out of me but I found myself blurting out: "I haven't laughed like this in too long." That kinda pulled him from his shock and he smiled, reaching for my book and taking out a pen from his inner pocket.

"I always wanted to sign a copy of this book. No one came to the signing back in the day." He signed himself in the back. "The book will fetch a fine price now."

"It's a good story." I muttered, feeling tipsy. "Maybe one day you'll find that peace I speak of." He said, standing up.

"I'll have peace when I find my friend."

"Thank you for your company, Sayomi." He left and I leaned on my seat, feeling tears in my eyes.

Goddamit Deidara...where are you?

One way or another/I'm gonna find ya'/I'm gonna get ya', get ya', get ya', get ya'/One way or another/I'm gonna see ya'/I'm gonna meet ya', meet ya', meet ya', meet ya'/One day maybe next week/I'm gonna meet ya'/I'm gonna meet ya', I'll meet ya'

Midterms nearly killed me and finals are already this close...The only thing I can think of is how I have to get to writing pronto or I'll run out of chapters to post. For now you'll safe though.

I think that's all I wanted to say this week.

Thank you for reading, and it'd be super rad if you leave a review. :)