Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

"I'll go with you," a pug said. Hana looked at him in shock.

"But, Eiichi…" she said.

"What?" asked her hound. "Arisu has a better chance of success if I go with her because I can lead her directly to Sasuke – she won't have to search for him. Hana accepted the logic and replaced her owl mask before turning to follow Mikoto and Taiki, who had already started walking. Arisu picked up her bat mask before watching her teammates go, Eiichi at her heels. Once her fellow ANBU were out of sight, she turned in the direction of the Akatsuki base.

Chapter 29 – Osutin Ruiizu-chan

They stopped outside a cave and looked in.

"So that's the Akatsuki base," Arisu muttered. Eiichi nodded in agreement. He made to go in but Arisu stopped him. "Wait." She performed the handsigns for a jutsu that would conceal her and Eiichi. Once she was finished, they carefully entered, Eiichi leading. It was a total maze and Arisu soon lost her bearings. It pained her to be totally reliant on a dog, but she had no choice. Eventually, they emerged in a giant cave. A giant wooden statue with ten fingers pointed up at the sky took up the entire cavern. Looking at it, Arisu could see five people standing on the fingers. From what she could hear of their conversation, they appeared to be discussing assassination attempts.

She crept very slowly through the cavern, following Eiichi into a side cave. It wasn't actually a cave, more like a natural corridor that they followed deep into the mountain.

I hope there's a back entrance, Arisu thought. I don't want to have to sneak past those five again.

Eiichi stopped outside a door and carefully nudged it open.

"Who's there?" someone asked. Their voice had an underlying hiss to it. "Is that you, Ruiizu-chan?"

Inwardly, Arisu cursed, having no wish to reveal her presence.

"Hello?" The voice had become suspicious. Arisu did the only thing she could – she encased the speaker with ice, muffling him so that he couldn't be heard. Because the ice was blurry, the guard wouldn't be able to see her.

"The only other person in here is Sasuke," Eiichi whispered. Arisu relaxed and released the jutsu.

"Tell me if anyone comes," she whispered back, even though they were far enough from the main cave not to be heard. She cautiously went further into the small cave, further past the guard, until she could see Sasuke. Thankfully, he was awake and his eyes widened in shock when he saw her. She drew a kunai and cut his bonds and removed his gag.

"Arisu…" he whispered. "What..?"

"Shh!" she said, looking around warily. Seeing no-one, she performed the concealing jutsu so that no-one could see her, Sasuke or Eiichi. "Is there another way out?" she asked the dog, who shrugged.

"I dunno."

"There is," Sasuke said quietly. "I'll show you…" He tried to stand but collapsed, his legs having cramped up. Arisu caught him and helped him to stand. Carefully, they made their way out of the room and Sasuke led the way towards a small door which was almost invisible.

"How did you know about this?" Arisu asked as they walked out.

"It's the way they brought me in," he said. "They didn't actually catch me until I'd left the cave." His eyes widened as he remembered something. "There's a spy!" he said. "Ruiizu has a spy in Konoha!"

"We worked that out," Arisu said as they walked out. They travelled in silence around the mountain and crept past the cave entrance.

"How did you find the base?" Sasuke asked. Arisu shrugged and released the jutsu, since they were now a fair distance away from the mountain.

"We were tracking some members…" she broke off as they arrived at the battle ground "… as you can see…"

"They're from the squad that was sent to kill my brother and capture Itachi," Sasuke said. "Are they OK? What about Suigetsu and Karin?"

"Mmm," Arisu said as she sped up – she could feel the ice around the guard slowly melting. "We've got Itachi, Suigetsu's injured… not sure about the other two…"

Sasuke accepted what she said and didn't say any more. They travelled in silence, led by Eiichi, for about an hour. Finally, they heard a dog bark, and Eiichi barked in response. The next minute, Mikoto had run up to them and embraced her father.

"Dad!" she sobbed. "You're safe!"

"We'd better move," Arisu said suddenly. "Akatsuki are about to find out that he's escaped."

Mikoto nodded and supported her father, giving Arisu a rest. When they reached where Hana, Itachi and Taiki were, they saw that they were ready to go. Itachi had come round and was leaning heavily on Taiki. His eyes lit up when he saw his father. Sasuke, on the other hand, saw how much blood was staining his son's clothes and felt angry towards the squad that had been sent to kidnap him.

"How are Karin, Suigetsu and Itachi?" he asked the ANBU squad as they travelled towards Konoha.

"Karin's fine," Mikoto said. "Mum said that Suigetsu was badly injured but that he will recover."

"What about your uncle?" Sasuke pressed, fearing the worst.

"According to Shizune, he nearly died, but he's recovering quickly. He came round for a bit just before we left."

"Hey, Sasuke?" Arisu asked suddenly. He looked at her. "Do you know who the spy is?"

"Yes. It's…"


The guard waited impatiently for the ice to melt. When it finally did, he looked towards Sasuke and his golden eyes widened in shock – the Uchiha was gone. Panicking, he sent some snakes to find him. When one told him that Sasuke was no longer in the mountain he ran to where the Akatsuki were having a meeting.

"Ruiizu-chan!" he called. Annoyed at being interrupted, the girl jumped down from her perch.

"What? This had better be important, Orochimaru," she said threateningly. A cloud of dust started to form behind her.

"S-Sasuke-kun's escaped!" the ex-Sannin said, looking nervously at the cloud of dust. It thickened as Ruiizu-chan's anger intensified.

"The reason that you were guarding him is because I thought that you would be able to prevent any escape attempts," she said menacingly. The dust started to creep towards him.

"The-door-opened-but-no-one-came-through-I-asked-who-was-there-but-no-one-answered-I-was-about-to-attack-but-then-I-was-encased-in-ice-I-couldn't-do-anything-please-don't-kill-me!" he gushed, like most, terrified of Ruiizu-chan. To his relief, the cloud of dust dissipated.

"Ice…" Ruiizu-chan hissed.

"Ruiizu-chan?" Yanafu asked, jumping down to stand by her side.

"… and I thought she was dead…" the young teen muttered, ignoring her aide. "This complicates things…"

"What does?" Zetsu asked, as the rest of Akatsuki joined her.

"Not what… who," Ruiizu-chan said. "Arisu."

The rest of Akatsuki stared at her, uncomprehending. "Arisu?" they thought. "Who's that?"

"How does this… Arisu… complicate things?" Kisame asked warily.

"She's powerful," Ruiizu-chan said. "The only person that exists that might be able to best me in a fight. I thought she died years ago… I've been too careless…"

A snake slithered up to Orochimaru and hissed to him.

"What did it say?" Yanafu asked. Ruiizu-chan glared at him, silently demanding him to tell her.

"She's found the remains of Io, Aina and Aoto not far from here," he said. He looked directly at Ruiizu-chan. "More ice is there."

"So… Arisu's fighting for Konoha now…" Ruiizu-chan mused. "Now that they have Sasuke back, they won't surrender…" Her blue eyes flashed. "Summon all our followers. Now that Iwagakure has fallen, we have more. We go to attack Konohagakure!" Pointed teeth were visible as she grinned. It's been a while… Arisu…


Arisu sneezed.

"Are you okay?" Hana asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Arisu said, although truthfully she felt a bit uneasy.

Itachi was staring at his father.

"She's the spy?" he asked. He couldn't believe it – she was his friend!

"What's this 'Ruiizu-chan' like?" Mikoto asked her father.

"I'll tell you when we get back. It saves having to explain things twice," he said. "Seeing as we're nearly there." He was right – the gates of Konohagakure were visible.

As they walked through the gates, Kotetsu and Izumo stared. They couldn't believe their eyes – Uchiha Sasuke and Itachi injured? They must have been dreaming, surely?

ANBU squad 10, under Mikoto's suggestion, headed straight for the Uchiha mansion. When they got there, the first person they met was Yuri, who was sitting outside.

"Itachi. Sasuke," she said in surprise. Wana woke up and her head emerged out of her sister's shoulder so that she could see for herself.

"I heard that you were captured," she commented. Sasuke nodded.

"Who are you talking to?" they heard Tani call as she walked towards the door.

"TANI!" they heard Sakura shout. "Get back here right now! Your sister's already run off – and your brother and father…" she broke off.

"Hey! Sakura!" Yuri called.

"Come here a minute?" Wana interrupted. There was the sound of running footsteps as the medic ran to the door. She opened it and gasped.

"Look who we found," Arisu said. Sakura launched herself at Sasuke, hugging him tightly.

"I thought I'd never see you again!" she sobbed into his shoulder. He hugged her back.

"How come you're allowed out but I'm not?" Tani demanded. Mikoto walked in to pacify her angry sister. The rest of the ANBU squad followed with Itachi. Sakura practically dragged her husband into the house.

"Daddy!" Tani said when she saw her father. Noticing that her mother was hugging him, she turned her attention to her brother. She looked shocked when she saw his bloodstained clothes but hugged him anyway.

"What did you say, Tani?" her uncle asked, leaning against a doorpost. His eyes widened when he saw his younger brother. Mikoto glared at him.

"I'm pretty sure that you're not supposed to be walking around just yet," she said. He looked up at the ceiling.

"Maybe…" he said evasively. He looked at his nephew. "You okay, Itachi?" he asked. The teenager nodded. Sakura looked round and saw her son… and brother-in-law.

"Itachi!" she scolded. "I don't recall saying that you could walk around."

The older Uchiha winced.

"I got curious," he protested. Sasuke limped over to his brother.

"You're alright," he said, relieved.

"I am now," Itachi replied. "But I wasn't." Sasuke looked at him in concern. "Apparently they nearly lost me," he explained.

"Guess I got lucky then," Suigetsu said. Sakura turned and glared at him.

"Why is everyone walking around when I specifically told them to rest?" she demanded. Suigetsu ignored her.

"You back then, Sasuke?" he asked. Sasuke nodded, leaning against the wall by his brother.

"Suigetsu!" Karin scolded, coming down the stairs. "I leave you alone for a minute…" He shrugged, then winced. Her face softened slightly and she walked over to him.

"Sasuke!" Naruto said in surprise, entering the house. He turned and looked at the ANBU. "I don't recall that being part of your mission," he told them. Arisu shrugged.

"Well, we knew where he was so what were we supposed to do?" she asked. "Leave him?" Naruto shook his head.

"I'm not complaining," he said. He looked at the injured ninja. "Perhaps it would be a good idea if, instead of standing around chatting, we sat down in the living room?" he suggested. The ninja all nodded and made their way into the living room. Once they were all comfortable, Sasuke looked at Naruto.

"Arisu told me that you know that there's a spy," he said. Naruto nodded. "I know who it is."

"Who?"

Before Sasuke could answer, Kohaku poked her head around the door.

"So my eyes didn't deceive me," she said. "You really are back, Sasuke." She looked at the gathering of ninja. "Oh, sorry! Am I interrupting something?"

"Not really," Naruto said. "You know that we worked out that there was a spy?" She nodded. "Well Sasuke was just about to tell us who it is." Her eyes widened.

"Well don't let me stop you," she said, and started to leave, but Sasuke's voice stopped her.

"The spy is Kohaku," he said, glaring at her. She turned at looked at the now-shocked ninja. Naruto stared at her.

"You?" he asked incredulously.

She laughed, her luminous green hair shining in the light of the sun.

"Well the cat's out of the bag, isn't it?" she said, making no attempt to deny it. "Yes, it's me. I was the one that told Ruiizu-chan that Sasuke would be paying her a little visit. I was the one that told Aina and Aoto when to strike, and where. I'm the one that told Genya and Daisuke where they'd find Suigetsu and Hotaru. It was all me. Bye!" Before anyone could stop her, she'd vanished in a cloud of smoke.

"Gone to report to her mistress," Sasuke said sourly. Naruto looked at him.

"This might not be the best time to ask," he said. "But what did you find out?" Sasuke closed his eyes, thinking.

"There are five members," he said. "Madara, Kisame and Zetsu we already knew about. Then there's Ruiizu, the leader. They're all terrified of her, except her aide, Yanafu, who's the fifth member. They've conquered Kiri, Kumo and Iwa and Konoha is their next target. As you may have figured out, they've sealed the Hachibi, so the Kyuubi is the only one left."

Naruto shrugged.

"It was inevitable that it would come to this," he said. "What are Ruiizu and Yanafu like?"

"Young. I'd put them both at about thirteen, but they're very powerful. Yanafu can Shīru people's minds. Ruiizu seems to be able to control dust, much like you control ice, Arisu."

"What do they look like?" the ex-Kiri kunoichi asked.

"Yanafu has long black hair with purple streaks, part of which is tied up in a small bun. She's got dark eyes. Ruiizu's small. She's got short brown hair with flecks of red. She's got light blue eyes and wears glasses."

He fell silent as a cloud of dust materialised. Its shape changed until it looked like a young teen – identical to Sasuke's description.

"Speak of the devil…" he said warily.

"… and the devil will appear," Ruiizu-chan said. "Was I really that bad?" she asked childishly. "And there's no point trying to attack me," she added. "This is only a hologram." She looked round the room. "Nee-chan. I haven't seen you for years," she said "Nee-chan?" nearly everyone thought. Ruiizu-chan looked at their confused faces and laughed.

"You didn't tell them?" she asked, turning to look at Arisu.

"I wasn't certain it was you," the kunoichi replied, glaring at her. "You were expecting to see me. Let me guess – you realised that I was still alive when the guard told you about being encased in ice?"

"No-one else can control ice that well, dear sister," Ruiizu-chan said. "But I have to admit that it was a shock to realise that you survived."

"You're the younger – if either of us had died, it would have been you," Arisu reasoned. Ruiizu-chan looked round at everyone else.

"Oh, I'm being rude and ignoring you," she said sarcastically. "I haven't even introduced myself. I am Osutin Ruiizu, daughter of Osutin Iori and Aemi, younger sister of Osutin Arisu, outcast from Kirigakure and leader of the Akatsuki." Her large, child's eye blinked from behind her glasses. "Goodbye. I'll see you all soon."

With that she disappeared. Everyone sat in shock. It was a few minutes before anyone spoke.

"That's the leader of the Akatsuki?" Tani asked in disbelief. "She's not much older than me."

"She's thirteen," Arisu said. "I thought she died four years ago."

"She obviously thought the same thing about you," Hana said. "Were you both thrown out at the same time?"

Arisu nodded.

"Someone from Akatsuki must have rescued her," she said. "Like you guys rescued me." She looked down. "I knew she was ambitious, but I never thought she'd join them." Hana put her arm around her.

"I know it's a shock," Naruto said "but she's our enemy now. How strong is she?"

Arisu looked up at him.

"Strong. We have different Kekkei Genkais. I, as you know, can manipulate ice – a trait I got from my mother, while Ruiizu can control dust, inherited from our father. We both had unusually good control over our Kekkei Genkais – most people in our family had minimum control but we could – and still can – kill with a glance. She's also very clever, which could be to our advantage."

Everyone looked at Arisu in surprise.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked.

"She could probably take on the entire village single-handed, but she won't. She'll try to intimidate us with numbers."

"But how does that help us, aside from the fact that every Konoha shinobi and kunoichi will fight, no matter what the odds, to protect our village?" Tani asked.

"She, like me, grew up in Kiri," Suigetsu said, to everyone's surprise. "It's basic tactics that we were taught – and tactics that, now we know about them, we could take measures to outsmart."

Arisu nodded.

"But, Sasuke," she said. The Uchiha looked at her in surprise. "You said that Kiri, Kumo and Iwa are under her control, and that her next aim is Konoha. Nearly everyone looked at her blankly.

"So Suna are unconquered," Itachi (the younger one) commented. "And the same goes for the smaller countries."

Arisu nodded again.

"We're allied with Suna," Naruto said, catching on to their meaning. "If we could get word to them…"

"What about the smaller countries?" Mikoto asked. "If we could convince them of the threat that Akatsuki poses, they might help."

"But what if they're already allied with Akatsuki?" Naruto asked. "I don't want to risk sending messengers if they're not going to come back."

"I'll go," Arisu said. "After all, she's my sister." Naruto looked like he wanted to protest.

"Naruto," Sasuke said. "They're right. We need as much help as possible if we're going to defeat Akatsuki."

Naruto still looked uncertain.

"But I don't want to send any of the village's ninja," he said. "I could be sending them on a suicide mission, dattebayo!"

"Well then send strong shinobi," Tani said. "Ask for volunteers. It's a risk, but we need all the help we can get."

Naruto sighed and gave in.

"You're right. Arisu – round up a few volunteers and send them to my office." The kunoichi nodded and left.

"Us, too," the rest of her ANBU squad said. Naruto sighed.

"Anyone related to an ex-Akatsuki member stays," he said firmly. Mikoto glared at him.

"Why?" she demanded.

"They may still be targeting you," he said. "No arguments. Mikoto scowled but relented. Hana and Taiki took that as permission and vanished.

"Can we volunteer?" Wana asked. Naruto nodded absent-mindedly and the sisters disappeared. Sakura glared at her family, silently forbidding them to even consider trying to make Naruto change his mind about them.

When Naruto entered his office an hour later, he was surprised at the number of ninja that greeted him. As he'd expected, Arisu, Hana and Taiki were there. Among the others he could see Yuri and Wana, Kakashi, Anko, Najimi, Tsukihana, Nami and Kyo.

"You wanted volunteers," Arisu pointed out, seeing his surprise. "Have you forgotten that every ninja in the village will gladly risk their life for it?"

Naruto sighed.

"You did tell them what they're volunteering for, right?" he asked.

"Of course I did!" Arisu confirmed.

"So we will send word to Suna – Yuri, Wana, Kentaro, Isas, Kei and Kaname can go and talk with the Kazekage." The six ninja nodded.

"Najimi, Tsukihana, Nami, Kyo, Shino, Kiba and Akamaru, go to Taki. Hana, Arisu, Taiki, Kakashi, Anko and Tomoko, go to Ame and Hidé, Hiroshi, Tomoko, Aiko, Yorusuke and Jun go to Kusa. Go as soon as you're ready."

The twenty four ninja nodded and left.

"I hope I'll see you all again," Naruto muttered. "Alive."

So, Kohaku was the spy, and Arisu and Ruiizu-chan are sisters! Congratulations to Suigetsu-is-da-bomb who was the only person to ask me if Kohaku was the spy! Have a cyber cookie for your powers of deduction. If you were part of the majority who blamed Arisu… don't worry - I framed her so don't feel bad, OK?

Here's a list of the hints I dropped though:

*I said that the spy had green hair, purple eyes and pointy teeth, and never described Kohaku!

*I said that the spy was present when the Uchiha family found out about Sasuke's capture. She didn't say anything, but Kohaku was there.

*I made it clear that the spy was a friend of Mikoto's ANBU squad – I showed Kohaku to get on well with Mikoto and Arisu.

*Sasuke recognised her, which meant that she wasn't using a Henge no jutsu, but the assassination squad didn't show any signs of recognition when they came face-to-face with Arisu.

The three people I expected to be suspected were Kohaku, Arisu and Hotaru, so if you suspected one of them I did my job properly!

Oh, and by the way, 'Dear Writers' by LoVe-WiLl-fInD-a-WaY features this story (well, it has Itachi slating it, but still) so please read it!

Thanks for reading!

Tsari