An - ...Ahem... sorry! I was gone for two weeks to Europe and well... lets just say.. i didn't have any paper on me.. but despite that fact, i thought over the plot for most of the trip cus it was somewhat annoying and boring... So anyways, i think i got the plot down.. now to put it into words.. I'm so sorry for not notifying about my absence (for those who care if this story is updated or not)

Gomen!

I won't keep you waiting any longer..

Read on!

Chapter 36 – Konoha

"Maliko.. Wake up.." Gaara lightly shook Maliko's shoulders as she lay sprawled on the ground, drooling in bliss.

"Hnn.. No Gaara.. more sleep." she replied sternly without opening her eyes, but grabbing onto Gaara's arm and jerking him to the ground so she could snuggle with it.

"Baka! I said wake up!" he said louder, lightly punching her in the arm. Immediately her eyes snapped open and glared daggers at the man on the ground beside her.

"Don't punch me you ass!" yelled Maliko as she punch him back, using her full force on his arm. Gaara reared back, ready to retaliate when Itachi decided to intervene, Aysen behind him.

"Don't you children think that we should be going?" the Uchiha questioned sounding much more mature than the squabbling couple on the ground.

"... Where are we going?" Maliko asked hesitantly watching as Gaara's eyes flickered from her to Itachi in a determined way.

"Konoha." Itachi answered making it sound indifferent.

"WHAT?" Maliko was now on her feet with her hands clenched by her sides. "Are you stupid! They'll take me for interrogation again! Do you know what that feels like!"

"Will you just list-"

"They prodded me with needles and beat me around like a ragdoll! No way in hell am I going there-"

"You know, if you would just let me fini-"

"They'd probably go so far as to kill me this time! They're evil with their false accusations and quick to take action attitud- Ah!"

Maliko was cut off when she was tripped to the ground by Gaara. Using her sudden shock as an advantage, he clamped his hand over her mouth and held her tightly so she would listen to Itachi.

"There... continue Itachi."

Itachi rolled his eyes and began to speak.

"As I was saying.. We're going to Konoha and we're going to bring them back the bodies of their villagers over there." he pointed to the three unfortunate nins that still had senbon protruding from multiple places on their body. "Hopefully they'll see it as a sign of peace that instead of stealing secrets about their village from the bodies, we returned them. We will offer them help and by helping them, we also get help to retrieve our comrade as well as theres.."

Gaara took his hand from Maliko's mouth seeing that Itachi was done.

"But what if they don't see it as a sign of peace and decide to capture me again?" She asked, worriedly.

"You have us to protect you.." Itachi replied.

"... Thats reassuring.." she stated while looking to the side, her words dripping with sarcasm.

"Too bad, thats how things are going. So get ready to go. We leave in half an hour." Itachi proclaimed. He then walked over to the three dead nins and began pulling the senbon from their bodies so they could carry them.

"...Hasty bastard..." Maliko muttered under her breath. She quickly began to put her sleeping gear away and was ready to go in half an hour, as was everyone else.

"Alright, everyone pick a body. Maliko and Aysen can switch off carrying one." said the Uchiha, picking up one of the bloody nins and stood, waiting for the others. Gaara and Maliko then picked up the other ones and they all started on their way to Konoha with Aysen carrying their packs to make the travel less hard for them.

They traveled for half the day before reaching Konoha. It was close to sunset as the four neared the gates to the village. Maliko was now carrying everyones packs while Itachi, Gaara, and Aysen carried the dead nins.

Once they reached the gate, six Konoha nins were already infront in fighting stances.

"What's your business here and why do you carry the dead of Konoha!" one yelled.

"We wish to speak to the Godaime Hokage on peaceful terms. She may have as many guards as she wants for the meeting, but it is of absolute importance that she sees us." Itachi proclaimed, standing in front of Maliko, acting as a shield against the Konoha nins.

The Jounin that had spoke to them turned to another beside him and nodded, a gesture to inform the Hokage. Meanwhile the remaining five scrutinized the group before them.

"Why do you carry three of Konoha's men, all of whom are obviously dead?" the Jounin continued.

"We happened upon them in our search for one of our own comrades. They were dead when we got there."

"Thats hard to believe coming from Uchiha Itachi.." The nin said, obviously trying to overstep his bounds. Before anything could be taken to a more violent level, the Godaime Hokage appeared through the gates with Kotetsu and Izumo by her side.

"Who is it that wishes to speak to me so urgently?" she asked, sounding somewhat annoyed at being disturbed.

"Tsunade. I wish to speak with you on peaceful terms. It appears that you are missing one of your comrades, as are we." Itachi spoke swiftly and surely, not letting any hesitation show.

Tsunade eyed him carefully before turning her gaze to the three dead nins slung over their shoulders and then to a familiar head that peaked out from behind Itachi.

"You!" Tsunade yelled to the obviously frightened girl. Maliko squeaked and quickly ran behind Gaara and clutched his cloak for security.

"You come here with one of the girls that attempted an assassination on the Hokage of this village and wish for peace!" She spat out with malice towards the group.

"She never attempted an assassination on you. The Kazekage planned it so it seemed that way, predicting you would drive them out towards him.. He had plans for the two girls that you did not know of. They were innocent the whole time." spoke Gaara finally.

"And how do you know about this? For what I know, you're a missing nin.."

"I was there at the time that this all occurred, watching over the planning and waiting for the time when they came so I could leave the village with them. It's too complicated to get into it at this time as we hope to get to the problem at hand." The red haired man explained with two wide white eyes peeking over his shoulder.

"Alright, and how do you know that we are missing a comrade? Was there a letter left behind? Or maybe this is all a ploy to gain our trust? For what I know, the Akatsuki still seeks Naruto and the Kyuubi." She asked eyeing each and every one of them.

"Your ANBU captured a girl from our group. We trailed after them and found these three nin and according to her." Itachi jerked his head in Maliko's direction. "there were four ANBU that came and took the other Hyuuga girl. As for the Akatsuki, Gaara and I are no longer a part of that.''

"What made you decide to leave." she questioned haughtily.

"We wished to train the two girls our own way, without limitations or rules that needed to be followed provided by a leader that only wanted them for power."

Tsunade once again eyed him, hoping to see a slight sign of him lying on his stone set apathetic face. After a few minutes of silence as she scrutinized them she finally said.

"Put the bodies down, I wish to see who his missing."

The three did so immediately and as the Godaime looked over them, Maliko noticed her become tense. She muttered a curse before speaking again.

"The ANBU captain I assigned, Uchiha Sasuke, is missing."

Maliko quickly looked to Itachi curiously. 'A relative of his?' She noticed as he frowned at this news.

"Then my predictions may be correct as of whose behind all this."

"Who might that be?" Tsunade asked, eager to know of someone that could possibly defeat Sasuke or set him astray.

"Orochimaru,"

"What! If thats true, why would he take the other Hyuuga girl?" the Godaime asked hurriedly, hungry for answers.

"While at the Akatsuki, he was noticed by Maliko and Gaara as he was plotting with a traitor of the group. He of course seeks powerful shinobi, bloodlines, and ninjutsu to benefit him. He found Sasuke and an unsealed Byakugan holder, daughter of the Zetsumeikage. Theres no doubt he would pounce on the opportunity." Itachi stated matter of factly.

Maliko's stomach sunk with this information. Her beloved sister was with Orochimaru, they man that had ordered their mother killed. Did Tazze forget his face or was she taken forcefully. These questions filled her mind with all the possibilities of what would happen to her or if she was even still alive. Darkness began to fog her mind, and before she blacked out, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her and a familiar voice yelling her name, seemingly in the distance.

An - Ahem.. a lot of talking but.. it had to be done.. -sigh-.. anyways finally updated, and once again.. sorry for the wait! Review!

Abayo

Malitia