Chapter twenty-nine

I got back early n the morning as the sun was rising as I made my way to Tsunade to report on my mission. It was just what I needed to release some pent up stress with my mission being more of a massacre than just a few assassinations. I grinned to myself as I slipped into her office, still in my full bloody ANBU uniform and dropped the scrolls with the heads in and the report on her desk.

"Mission accomplished and just what I needed." I said with a grin and noticed Tsunade seemed distracted. There was lightning in the distance and some angry storm clouds on the opposite side of the sky than the sun and it made me shiver and drop my grin. "Tsunade… What's wrong?" I asked carefully as she sighed and rubbed at her temples. She proceeded to tell me that Sasuke had run away from the village and heading towards Orochimaru and it made my blood boil for multiple reasons.

"He did what?" I hissed as I ripped off my mask and slammed it down on the table with my other hand and leaned over onto them.

"Exactly what I just told you Sonea." Tsunade said calmly, she looked tired.

"Please tell me you sent at least chunin level nin after him. After what I saw during the invasion, Orochimaru only keeps useful, powerful and loyal pawns and they'll stop at nothing to get him what he wants." I asked firmly and she shook her head, making me growl.

"I sent Nara Shikamaru on his first chunin leading mission with Hyuuga Neji, Akimichi Choji, Inuzuka Kiba and Uzumaki Naruto with him plus the minimum back up from Suna, I couldn't spare any other ninja at that moment." Tsunade said sadly.

"Then you have probably sent them to their deaths… Give me the first and second medical squads and get them to meet me at the gate in half an hour, no excuses." I snarled, turning my back on her and putting my mask away before running out towards the gate, summoning all of my wolves along the way. We had a telepathic debate while we waited and within twenty minutes they were there and they were all arranged on wolves in pairs and I even ran in my wolf form to work off some steam as I followed their fading scents into the forest.

We first came up to a very skinny and very injured Choji who had defeated a large man with orange hair and I noticed he was one of the Oto nin who formed the barrier for Orochimaru during the invasion. I gave instructions to Bolt and Sage who stayed with the medics as we moved along to the next scent.

We found Neji next with multiple stab wounds and fighting the six-arm freak that was dead now as well like the previous nin and he was also fighting for his life as I left Fire and Fall with them for Fall's experience in medical jutsu.

There was four scents that split off from where we came across and I ordered Seth to follow it and help the team that had gone off as we continued to a place where the trees had been taken down and there stood Temari and Shikamaru as I left Star there to take care of it with the medical team on her back and continued on with Strom's team left. We got to a bony and sandy field and noticed Gaara and Lee sitting just off on the side, resting after their battle.

"Where are Naruto and Sasuke?" I asked Gaara and Lee frantically as Storm stopped with the medics as Lee was not cleared for duty yet and had to be taken care of with extreme caution.

"Up ahead, Naruto went after Sasuke… He's not the same as before." Gaara said calmly and for a second I was glad he had sorted himself out before I took off in my wolf form for my two closest people I cared about.

I got to the Valley of the End and saw Sasuke battling to stand up with Naruto lying on the floor. I caught Sasuke as he stumbled and began to heal some of his more serious injuries as the sky rumbled overhead.

"I guess you're going to take me back to Konoha by force now." He said defeated.

"No… I'm not. I'm only doing this in case Orochimaru wants to take your body right then… I'm letting you go as best interest to yourself and mine, I failed you and your brother like Konoha did with your clan as they have failed me and I have failed myself. But let me warn you Sasuke, next time we meet, I will not hesitate to come at you with the intent to kill you especially if you try to hurt Naruto again. Heed my words Uchiha Sasuke… Next time I ever see you, I will not make a mistake like this again." I said with anger towards my actions before chasing him away and causing the rain to begin to pour as Sasuke set off. I let my mistake wash away with my tears in the rain as I knelt down to heal Naruto.

Kakashi and Pakkun arrived a while later when I was busy checking Naruto's condition. Luckily, he was alive but not in good condition with the rapid healing the Kyuubi was performing and my manipulating of it towards the hole left by Sasuke's Chidori in his chest.

"Naruto." Pakkun said, running to the other side of him and sitting by his head. "Why did it end up like this?" I closed my eyes as my hands with healing chakra began to shake with anger as I felt Kakashi's presence next to me. Pakkun sniffed the hitai-ate with a scratch on it next to Naruto.

"It's Sasuke's." He alerted us and I stumbled away from Naruto and Kakashi to regain my composure from anger. This was the saddest I had seen Kakashi in a while but instead it made me angrier to watch him as he placed the scratched hitai-ate onto Naruto and pick him up.

"I'm sorry I didn't make it in time… Naruto… You went all out." He said down to the boy in his arms. Pakkun came to stand next to me and whined up at me. I bent down and put him into my arms as he could feel the anger washing off of me. Kakashi shifted Naruto onto his back and we hopped up onto the ledge as the rain ended.

"The rain… It's stopped." Kakashi said from in front of me but of coarse Pakkun and I picked up what he said.

"Yeah." Pakkun agreed from my arms. "The rain, I can't peruse him by scent anymore. More importantly, treating Naruto comes before perusing Sasuke." Pakkun said as Kakashi turned to face us.

"Yeah." He said sadly and began walking for Konoha and I followed behind at a decent distance so I didn't loose my cool right there.

"Kaka-sensei… Where's Sasuke?" Naruto asked him quietly but my ears caught it as the medical squad caught up to us.

"Kakashi-san. How is Uzumaki Naruto's condition?" They asked, surrounding us a little.

"He's fine." Kakashi responded coolly.

"Sasuke… Where is Uchiha Sasuke?" Another one asked. Kakashi just merely shook his head.

"What's the condition with the other genin?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes, by Hokage-sama's orders the first and second medic teams were dispatched and we have already taken the injured and to receive emergency treatment. Nara Shikamaru's injury is minor. Inuzuka Kiba has a deep wound but his life is not in danger. Hyuuga Neji and Akimichi Choji are in critical condition. For now their recovery is uncertain." They explained. I clenched my fists until they bled and shook with raw anger for everything that had happened… I failed my important people once again. I didn't notice my hand slamming into a tree I jumped off of and looking like a Chidori but rather a storm release version to it as I left behind the shattered remains and the ground rumbled as the tree made impact with the ground and the medic team and Kakashi looked back at me cautiously but my red and glowing red eyes must have said something as they turned to face the front very quickly.

We got to the hospital and I followed the massive amount of chakra being used to Intensive Care Seven and walked in carefully. Neji was lying there within a large seal and using his hair as a medium to repair the holes in his body and saw two of them swap out and mention something about three hours as Shizune shouted to keep the chakra stable as any mistake could cost Neji his life.

"Please do not be alarmed, I'm here to help." I said calmly, shifting into Jyuubi chakra mode carefully and reaching a tail out to everyone and giving them my chakra to help the process and I could see it took some strain off of their faces, as the process seemed to speed up after three long hours of this already. I registered the amount of chakra they were using and placed my hands together in a prayer position and closed my eyes to focus the exact amount for everyone at the same time, making it easier for them further as well as quicker. The process stopped and I retracted my tails and dropped back into my demon mode as the medics offered their thanks as they took Neji away and Shizune came up to me.

"Thank you, we needed that boost… I need to report this to Tsunade-sama right away." She said with a slight bow at me and took off running down the halls. I walked down the halls feeling conflicted… How could I just let Sasuke go like that and betray the village as well as my friends? I don't even know what I meant saying this could benefit me in some way but the omens I had been feeling and seeing were coming together slowly into one picture… Naruto versus Sasuke, light versus dark and the sun versus the moon. Those two were destined once again like Hashirama and Madara to fight just like sensei's sons. I noticed Shikamaru walking with his dad towards me and we stopped and I noticed Shikamaru had been crying.

"Well done Shikamaru." I said, giving him a pat on the shoulder as I continued on down the halls with a slight smile and stopped by Naruto's room to here him sleeping still… I would come back later as I shimmered home to clean out of my bloody uniform.

I lay on the roof of the Hokage's Tower later that afternoon and watched the clouds pass by over the stone heads on the cliff… Tsunade's face would be up there soon… Speak of the Sannin.

"I took a risky gamble that I shouldn't have… I've seen how important both Naruto and Sasuke are to you and to this village and I screwed it up. It'll be the last mistake I make." Tsunade said, leaning against the railing with her back to me, also looking up at the stone heads.

"It's a learning curve, there's no need to apologise, you did what you thought was right Tsunade and I don't regret it either… Everything may just turn out right some how in the end." I said… There were those words again I didn't even know where they were coming from.

"Jiraiya is taking him on a training trip soon and I've allowed it… Akatsuki are becoming a big problem that I see ending for the worst… I'm sure you'll have your little tag along like last time." She said, turning around to face me with a knowing grin that I returned.

"He broke my trust the first time so no risks this time, we can't afford it… Besides, Jiraiya said Akatsuki has dropped off of the radar for now and it's the only time but I'm still worried about his seal… You know what? Jiraiya can handle it, he's a big boy now." I said, flipping up to stand again and shrugging my shoulders and Tsunade laughed and left me to my thoughts and I decided to visit Naruto and maybe bring him some ramen. I began walking to the railings when I turned around to see my circle standing together and watching me with some sort of evil glint to their eyes… It was unusual to see them all together at the same time on purpose. "Hey guys… What's up?" I asked cautiously even though I could read their thoughts if I wanted to I don't just for their own privacy plus I've seen to many disturbing things during our time 'connected' together so I block it out easily.

"You know how you like to rule with democracy among the circle right?" Fire asked with a sneaky grin and her bright green eyes glimmering with mischief and I took a step back as everyone else seemed to be holding back the same grin.

"So we all took a vote without you to shoot this down immediately." Bolt said with his deep and growling voice as mischief also played in his black eyes.

"So we decided we're going to have a big end of the year party in the club before Naruto goes on his trip." Storm said with a cocky grin and smirking at the same time and I relaxed slightly.

"Yeah sure that would be cool." I said with a small smile and everyone seemed to smirk or grin.

"You just signed your life away Sonea." Star said with an almost troubled sigh as she crossed her arms and blew some pink and blonde strands of hair out of her face.

"What do you mean? What are you all up to?" I asked getting defensive in my stance slightly as I backed up against the railing.

"It's been a while since we were all together, not since before Star arrived so when we have time, we ARE going to get together and play music during the big party after we all found out we all play some sort of instrument and Seth is good with the electronic side of things… No excuses Sonea, you have no choice." Fall warned coolly in her whimsical voice and I smiled and shook my head before I unsealed my staff from the back of my neck and stood in a playful and defensive pose.

"Over my dead body, I'm not standing up in front of a crowd again especially if you decide to 'dress me up' again. Oh hell no." I said with a smirk but then it dropped as I saw all of them taking out their specialty weapons of katanas, knives, chains, knuckle busters, scythes and Fall's dreaded chakra veil I haven't seen in years and I shivered as they came closer with smirks on their faces. So much for visiting Naruto as I shimmered to the training grounds and they all followed me with suishins and began their attack to get me involved.

Let's just say it ended up badly for me in the end. I could be seen being dragged through the streets of Konoha, wrapped up in Fall's chakra veil and being dragged on my ass… Lucky for me my dragon skin that I wore was near indestructible.

"Wow, a present for me?" A familiar voiced called behind me as I twisted in the veil to see who Fall and the gang had walked up to… It just had to be Kakashi.

"Go screw yourself Hatake." I growled out and there were a few snickers in the groups with near silent laughs.

"Feisty little gift isn't she?" Kakashi chuckled and Storm smirked, standing next to him… When had they become such good friends? "By the looks of all of you, she must have put up some fight huh?" Kakashi asked them, they hadn't come out of their little battle with me unscaved but in the end I still got caught and I sighed.

"Yeah, there's only one time she had ever gotten out of my veil but she's not able to now… I made sure I never got caught in that situation again." Fall informed him and he seemed thoughtful. I blocked out the rest of their conversation as I concentrated on getting loose with my tail weaving through the chakra infused fabric. I flinched back out of my thoughts and saw Kakashi was now on his haunches in front of me with the rest of my circle huddled around him and I turned my head away with a scowl and a pout, I really wasn't in a good mood right then. He placed a finger against my cheek and tried to turn my head back but I snapped at his finger and he pulled it back very quickly and flicked my nose… This was really pissing me off.

"I'm not some caged animal you know." I growled out as I faced them again.

"True but you are a little tied up right now." Kakashi said calmly with an eye smile. I managed to get my tail free and knocked Kakashi back as I activated my storm release and Fall retracted her veil knowing they had pushed me too far.

"I will not be controlled, not by anyone… But fate." I added at the end of my angry rant in a whisper as I turned and walked away… I still owe Naruto a visit and some ramen even if I have to sneak in because it's after visiting hours already.

'I think we pushed her a little too much guys.' Storm said seriously to the group as I listened in on their conversation unconsciously through them.

'It was unfair of us.' Fall added with a small sad frown.

'I didn't realise her position put her under so much stress and sadness.' Kakashi added seriously.

'It's unfair especially since she's dying because of it.' Star said, as her vision got blurry with tears as an arm was wrapped around her.

'What do you mean she's dying?!' Kakashi asked with outrage and confusion with hurt to his tone as he looked panicked and I couldn't and wouldn't listen as I cut them off and focused on what I was doing.

The moon hung bright in the near midnight sky after I left the hospital. Naruto had ended up cheering me up instead of the other way around like I was planning after him loosing Sasuke but his friends and Jiraiya had done a good job cheering him up before me. I passed the Hokage's tower and noticed lights still on inside so I went in for a mission that could take my mind off of things at the moment and proceeded to the mission desk to find a midnight ANBU job to be completed.