While Sasuke talked with Madara I looked around the room looking desperately for Kuri. Come to think of it, it was a strange name in the first place so it be odd to start calling it out loud. Especially in the middle of such a serious matter. I was suppose to maintain a serious appearance, but was making myself look strange instead with looking around the room several times. I couldn't find that damn squirrel anywhere! I noticed Suigetsu still observing me which only made me more irritated. I stopped and came back to reality once Madara and Sasuke began to get more serious as they talked about their plans to destroy the leaf village and team up on capturing the nine tails, which was if Sasuke and his team could capture the eight tails. I didn't even think this was going to happen. The way Sasuke talked about Naruto it almost seemed like he knew him and despised him. But to destroy the leaf village? Now I just wasn't sure if I could be able to go through with something like that… I couldn't stand it anymore and decided to walk out. There was no doubt in my mind that I was not going to hurt Naruto. Even though he may hate me now, he's the type of person I wish I could be, the type of person that can change this world, and there was no way I'd go against him. And that was enough for me to put my foot down.

"Where are you going, Nayumei?" Madara called. I raised my hand to shake it at him as a way of telling him to leave me alone. I simply heard Sasuke smirk and soon their voices became muffled. Just what was I going to do? Should I honestly believe in Madara's words about finding my mother? Before I was going to even consider doing anything else I needed to know where she was and if nothing could be done there was no point in sticking around here.

~::.::.::.::.:: A while later::.::.::.::.::~

I had decided that I was going to have to clear everything out first. The more the days went by, the less important my anger with Sasuke seemed. Of course I still cared for Deidara in some ways, but I just didn't have the time for revenge. My time was limited, and I couldn't die with any regrets. The only thing I need right now is to find out the truth of my mother. I approached Sasuke who I saw standing, looking over a cliff and near by was Suigetsu. I maintained a blank expression, and stared into Suigetsu's eyes which seemed to have distracted him.

"Where is Madara? I need to speak with him," I spat out. There was no need for politeness. Sasuke smirked before telling me he didn't know and didn't care. Even if he was working with us now, he had his mind set that he would do what he wanted and not what he was told. Or maybe to do what it would take to get our help with destroying the leaf village. Which only meant he'd have to prove his loyalty first, either way I didn't care. I thought back to when I destroyed the grass village and how I knew that I was a completely different person then. I had lost my control and I knew now if I was able to control it back then, that I would have never done anything like it. And I would have never been found by Deidara and Sasori. Ever since than I continued with the act of trying to be something that I just wasn't. I wanted to say more, but a part of me was telling me that I didn't need to and to just leave it how it was. So I took one last look at them both before disappearing into the trees. After awhile I ran into Zetsu and he told me that I was wasting my time with Sasuke, for Deidara had killed himself. I merely blocked it out and denied it and demanded to know where Madara had gone, he finally let it out of the bag and I proceeded with my search. I finally found him, not long and tried to keep my cool. I had spent the whole day looking for him and hadn't even figured out what exactly I was to say. After all, I wasn't aware of what he was capable of.

"Listen Madara, I need to find my mother first, then I'll corporate with whatever it is you need me to do, but until then, don't include me in any of your plans," I spoke confidently though I was beginning to realize I never did see him fight before and wasn't quite sure what tricks he had up his sleeve.

"You're mother is dead." The words sunk in and I began to feel panic.

"You're lying! Why would you try and…." I started and finally realized it. Thank goodness it was sooner than later. Madara was surely not going to help me find my mother and that only had me at one option. He was trying to get in my head and confuse me more, but I refused to listen to a word he said. Madara then explained that if I was only going to get in the way that he would deal with me himself. It became very clear that he wasn't ever even considering helping me, and I was stupid for even thinking he would. I walked silently off into the stillness of the night, having one mind set. To go to the sand village and find my mother myself, despite him saying she wasn't there in the first place. But if he lied about helping me then he most likely lied about that too, right?

~::.::.::.::.:: A few days later ::.::.::.::.::~

I had managed to get away without being followed. I grabbed ever single thing I owned and took it with me. Though I had my mind set on never returning with the Akatsuki. I kept the rings in my bag incase I changed my mind, and to have something of Deidara's. But I guess it depended on what I would find. All I wanted to do was meet with her face to face and figure out why she left me like she did. It was as simple as that. I knew deep down that she was still alive, and was just lingering, but where was the question.

...

I had been traveling for awhile now and had entered the sandy dessert that was long and seemed endlessly. The sand village was just up ahead and I couldn't see a thing. I had managed to come right in the middle of a nasty sand storm. I stared down at my feet telling myself over and over that soon, I would be there. I hadn't exactly cleared out the plan on how to get in, but I knew that Gaara would surely do something about it. I was hoping that he would want to see me and then I could ask him for help. The Akatsuki never did find out that I was offered a new life and I didn't want them too. I wanted it to stay a secret forever if possible. Now that Sasuke and his team had joined I felt like what was once the Akatsuki was no more. Almost half the members died off and the ones that were left were the ones I couldn't stand to be around. I had only stayed because I wanted to avenge Deidara's death, but that had quickly faded. You'd think if you'd want to be an avenger you'd have absolutely no doubt in your mind, well I must have and never even knew it.

Finally after what seemed like two days of walking in a windy storm I made my way to the entrance. Fortunately I had spotted a hidden way to get in undetected and headed for the tower that was suppose to be where the Kazekage lived. It was dark outside and it was easier this way to sneak in with not as many guards aware of it. I had to knock out a few guards and finally started to walk towards his door, feeling the tension build up. This was it, no turning back. I had actually finally stuck to one of my ideas and followed my heart, instead of my head. I knocked before he told me to enter. I debated for a few seconds whether or not I should actually go through with it, and bit my lip before pushing the door open. He was finishing writing something down and had sort of a peaceful aura around him. I felt my stomach flutter as he looked up and changed his expression to surprise. We stared into each others eyes for what seemed like the longest time, and I was just starting to compute that, no this wasn't a dream. I had actually come here and now I was facing him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked sounding unsure.

"I need your help…"I stuttered and tried to stay calm, but was starting to feel uneasy. He seemed shocked by the plea, and I was starting to doubt myself. Maybe I shouldn't have come to him after all.

"You see… I need to find my mother… She used to live here and I don't remember anything about her….and well I'd figure you'd help me with finding her file since she used to be a Shinobi here…"

He looked to the side and then back at me making me feel nervous. I was sure he was going to say no, after all that the Akatsuki had put him through, why would he ever want to help me, for the sake of following Naruto's footsteps.

"We can start tomorrow," He started as he put away his papers and stood up at his desk. He began to walk towards me as I stared blankly out the window feeling frozen. "You can stay in a room down the hall if you'd like." He walked past me brushing his shoulder against mine and left the room, with me alone inside. I looked around dumbfounded, how was it that he trusted me so much when he barely knew me? Why did I feel so drawn to him? Why, why, why?

"I guess since I have nowhere else to go…"I mumbled for only myself to hear. But I was definitely relieved.

~::.::.::.::.:: Later that night::.::.::.::.::~

I stared at the sky for what seemed like the longest time, mostly day dreaming of what my life could have been like. Remembering the happy times I did have with my mother and the stories she use to tell me. The plans we use to make and never accomplished. All the way to the day she took her suitcases and walked out the door. I pulled my knees under my chin and looked down at the ground which was several feet underneath me. I hadn't realized someone had come up behind me till I noticed that familiar red hair. I stared up at him as he looked out at his village in silence.

"I like to come up here too," he said in such a soothing voice I felt myself shiver. Why did I feel this way? I tried to fill my head with times with Deidara, but couldn't do it successfully.

"Why is that?" I blurted out and tried to avoid his gaze.

"Because I can see everything," He added. "It's calming." I stared up at him and then got into a standing position.

"Do you remember me? Because I remember you, I was little then… but I remember you tried to help me and I tried to talk to you… it was so long ago so I understand if don't remember…." I rambled on and tried to keep a serious face, but was starting to get irritated with the way I was acting. He smirked and wore a grin on his face. He added that he remembered that and how people had intervened and then he had come looking for me by the same place we met and waited for me to return and had finally given up after awhile when he realized I wasn't coming back. I told him a little about how afterwards I remembered sand Shinobi coming to bring me somewhere and that was when I had escaped. He told me that he would help me find her and when I asked what I needed to do in return he said nothing. I thought back to when he told me about how I can change my path and surprised myself when I blurted out that I was sorry for all the trouble I caused when the Akatsuki had taken him. He said that it could stay in the past now and he forgave me already and then told me I should get some rest. He started to go back inside and I watched as the stars in the sky seemed to appear then disappear, all except one that twinkled brightly. I looked over at a neighborhood that seemed familiar and sighed.

"Where are you now mother?"