Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of its characters

Now down to business, enjoy

Chapter Twenty-Five

A towel was briskly rubbed through streaked hair. In many ways Naruto's childhood had prepared him well for his adult life. Accept what you have; don't whine about what you don't. That didn't mean Hiraku would not attempt to even the odds through any means necessary. Every little bit helped.

This was not the time to panic. The task he wished to accomplish was not an easy one. The Akatsuki could not be simply shoved aside. At least the demon vessel had the beginnings of a plan. He figured he would start small and work his way up. First step, more contact with the Hidden Villages. Excluding Grass of course. A white robe was shrugged on as Hiraku opened the door. Now he just needed to speak with his partner.

Akira was sharpening his daggers when the other entered. Upon seeing the younger ninja's expression, he put his task aside. "What's up?"

"Besides the sky?" Hiraku managed to prompt a smile from the brunette before continuing. "I've been thinking."

The poison-user sobered immediately. His partner's ideas were a mixed basket. True, they tended to be highly successful, but still. There were reasons why people speculated about Hiraku's sanity. With luck this plan would not have a high chance of getting him killed. "And?" Akira figured he should just get it over with.

"I suggest an alliance with one of the Hidden Villages." A grim smile crossed the jinchuuriki's lips. "Just in case we ever need a bit of help."

A snort escaped the elder's mouth. "No doubt they will be happy to have us," his tone oozed sarcasm.

Hiraku rolled his eyes. His partner acted like they were going to walk up and knock on the gate. "Of course they won't." He smirked, "that is why we will have leverage."

Akira mulled the notion over before nodding in agreement. There was no reason not to listen to the rest of his partner's idea. "Which Village?" he asked.

"Konoha," was the firm answer. "Itachi Uchiha is from Konoha." Hiraku had another reason. He could predict their reactions far better than those from a place he had never been. The demon vessel gave a devil may care grin. "Now we just need the notes on the curse seal."

Green eyes blinked once, then twice. "Orochimaru's curse seal," he inquired carefully. Akira hoped he was wrong, no such luck. The other shoe had dropped.

"Exactly," Hiraku looked like Christmas had come early.

It balanced out Akira's expression. "Are you insane," he hissed. It was an effort not to raise his voice. The two nuke-nin didn't want to attract attention from the other inhabitants of the inn. "It is almost impossible just to get into Sound. Orochimaru has become downright paranoid about his village's security the last few years." A pointed look showed just whom the poison-user blamed.

Hiraku's response was to shrink in on himself, literally. As his body shifted, the demon vessel could not suppress a sense of pride in his abilities. Even a year ago, a transformation like this would have been beyond him. A moment later a different person stood in the ninja's place.

Soulful blue eyes looked up through a shock of raven hair. The young boy launched himself at Akira and held tight to the brunette's leg. "It was so scary," he wailed. "The scary men came and Mommy told me to run and, and. . ." Hiraku burst into tears.

Akira stared at the figure in shock. "It will work," the former grass nin hastily gave his approval. "Now will you let go? That's disturbing."

Hiraku immediately released him. The snake wouldn't know what hit him. It was good to be unpredictable.

The plan went off without a hitch. Orochimaru was always on the lookout for new talent, and the hospital where he was taken wasn't well guarded. Besides, no one would send a child not even five years of age against a Sannin. No one suspected a thing.

The shapeshifter quickly surveyed Orochimaru's office. There were fewer traps than he had expected. Then again, who would dare to steal from the powerful ninja? It took Hiraku longer than he would have liked to find what he was looking for. He was about to leave when a thought struck him. The snake had a nice desk, polished cherry wood.

Don't even think about it, Kyuubi warned. He knew his vessel too well; he could see what was coming. Not surprising, Hiraku ignored the demon's advice.

A single claw was inserted into the wood. Hiraku Kazama was here, the message was sprawled across the desk. The shapeshifter snickered; then exited both the room, and the Hidden Village of Sound.

The pair had not yet reached the border when they encountered another small party. "Hello copy-nin," Hiraku waved cheerfully. "Lovely day isn't it?" He didn't recognize the two chuunin who accompanied his former sensei.

"Kazama-san," Kakashi's voice was neutral as he motioned his companions back. He had done some research after his first encounter with the missing nin. Plus, Hiraku had been seen around Konoha more than once. "May I ask what you are doing?" The jounin didn't want to provoke a fight with the other ninja, and not just because he owed the younger man his life. For all his antics, the violet-eyed shinobi was dangerous.

Hiraku shrugged, "just leaving." His mask dropped for a moment as his eyes bore into Kakashi's. "You might consider doing the same."

The white-haired ninja was about to ask what Kazama meant when an enraged shout echoed over the countryside. "Kazama!!!" Orochimaru sounded angry, very angry.

Akira turned to glare at his partner. "What did you do?" he demanded.

"I did nothing," the jinchuuriki tried to protest. As green eyes narrowed further Hiraku relented. "All right," he admitted. "I may have done something. He would have known it was me anyway the moment he noticed the notes on the curse seal were gone." His choice of words was deliberate. There was no reason not to take advantage of Kakashi's presence.

The copy-nin stiffened. They had the notes on the curse seal. If Jiraiya could get his hands on those, the toad sannin might be able to remove them. He opened his mouth to speak but it was too late. Akira had already disappeared, dragging his partner with him. After a moment's thought, Kakashi ordered his own team back to Konoha. The Hokage should know of this.

FtAFtAFtAFtAFtA

Another chapter posted

The story has actually been done since late July

I just need to type it all