Confusingly Revolving Around Chiyoko

"All right. Still grumpy Sasuke as always."

"Still annoying Chiyoko as always."

They looked at each other, Chiyoko's second drink at her lips.

"Hn" Chiyoko said mockingly. She downed her drink in one go. "I guess we should get going." She said, throwing some money on the table.

"Yes."

They walked out of the bar.

"How's Orochimaru doing?" Chiyoko asked casually, her hands behind her head. Sasuke and she were walking on a road seemingly in the middle of nowhere.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Curious."

"Do you ever have a better reason for asking questions?"

"Not really. Being curious is totally legit."

"Not in my books."

"I don't read those books. Are you going to answer my question?"

"He's fine."

"If you can call that freak fine. Do you fancy him or something?" Chiyoko grinned childishly.

Sasuke glanced sharply at her. "Stop joking around."

"All right. Sorry. So, where did you say they were?"

"They were heading to Konoha." Chiyoko stopped while Sasuke kept on walking. He didn't seem to notice her freeze. "They should be in the northern area of the Fire Country. Most likely in the major city of the north. We'll work our way south to Konoha." He stopped and turned. Chiyoko was glaring at him.

"Don't fucking scare me like that. Konoha is taboo around me. S'long as we find them before they reach Konoha. If we don't - "

"How can Konoha stop your lifelong goal?"

"It's not my lifelong goal. I need something to do after the deed is done. And it involves not going back to Konoha. So, I don't want to meet them in Konoha. Get it?"

"Tch."

"Tch!" Chiyoko mocked.

Sasuke fought the urge to threaten her with his katana. He gripped the hilt for a moment.

"It'll be easier to find them with a sensory ninja. I know one in the area, I'll send word for her to meet us in the next village."

"Whatever you say, Boss."

Sasuke gritted his teeth. He had forgotten how annoying she could be. Worse than that sensory ninja...

"Let's go."

They leapt into the trees, rustling the leaves for a moment. Then all was still once more.

"Naruto is back." Kakashi stood beside Tsunade, the new Hokage. They were out on a balcony, Tsunade facing the street and Kakashi leaning against the railing, book in hand.

"Yes, I know."

"Are you going to tell him?"

"I'm not sure."

"Sooner or later, he'll find out." Kakashi flipped a page in his book.

"Yes, I know."

"What are you going to do when he finds out?"

"I'm not sure."

"He won't be happy that you've kept him in the dark."

"Yes, I know."

Kakashi looked up from his book. "So… Are you going to tell him?"

Tsunade sighed. "Stop pestering me Kakashi."

"Well, then, what did you call me over here for?"

Tsunade stood silently for a moment while Kakashi flipped another page.

"I want you to tell Naruto."

"Me?" Kakashi continued reading.

"Yes… Make sure to mention Sasuke."

He looked up from his book. "Is that wise?"

"I think he should know."

Kakashi closed his book and straightened up. "All right. I'll go find him."

Tsunade's eyes narrowed, concerned nonetheless.

"I know this must be a lot to take in all at once. You only just got back. But, Tsunade-sama put me up to this. You know, Hokage's orders." Kakashi-sensei leaned against a wall, opening his book to read now that the explanation was over.

Naruto loosened his clenched fists. "Both of them… Sasuke and Chiyoko… Since when have you known about this?"

Kakashi nodded. "We've been tracking Chiyoko for a while now. More like following her footsteps."

"And you never told me?" Naruto yelled angrily, his eyebrows in a frustrated V.

"It was for the better. You were training and we didn't want to interrupt you."

Naruto growled and crossed his arms, facing away from Kakashi-sensei. "She never tells me anything. Granny never says anything."

"So… what are you going to do about it?"

"What?"

"Tsunade-sama said that you would like to hear the news, so I told you. What are you going to do about it now?"

Naruto set his usual expression of determination. "I'll go look for them! I'll take every chance to find them." Naruto angrily pointed at Kakashi-sensei. "And no one's going to stop me!"

Kakashi-sensei stood up from his leaning position, closing his book and pocketing it. "I knew you were going to say that. All right. Time to tell the Hokage."

Naruto nodded sternly and curtly.

Within a day, an eight man cell had been assembled to pursue Chiyoko, who was presumably with Sasuke at the present moment. If Sasuke is with Chiyoko when the eight man cell finds her (for Konoha assumes that every mission will be successful) they will have a fair number of people to handle both Sasuke and Chiyoko. And so, an eight man cell was needed rather than a four man cell.

This eight man cell consisted of the remainder of Team Seven: Kakashi-sensei, Sakura and Naruto. Kiba was added to complete the team. He could enhance their abilities to track Chiyoko. The other four would be Team Guy: Guy-sensei, Tenten, Lee and Neji.

In the early hours of the morning, the Missing-nin Retrieval Mission began.

[Approximately two months earlier…]

The woman stared at him, eyes squinting slightly with contentment and a small smile lifting the corners of her mouth. The wind blew between them, ruffling the woman's hair, obscuring half of her face. The man's cloak blew about, his collar covering up to one of his red eyes. The woman narrowed her eyes, her expression appearing evil after such a small adjustment to her features.

"… Who are you?" Itachi found this woman worthy of at least the one question.

"Who am I? Why do people insist on knowing that?" The woman brought a hand up to her chin. "Who I am doesn't matter. What I'm here for does. I'm quite sure that if my purpose of being here were to kill you, you wouldn't care to know who I am, would you?"

Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly. He said nothing.

"I have a request."

Itachi still didn't move or say anything. He continued watching the woman. Another gust of wind disturbed the surrounding area.

"I need your help in… capturing a certain someone."

Itachi turned away. "I'm not interested."

"Oh. But you will be."

Itachi made no sign of leaving, but he clearly did not want to stay. He stood still once more.

"You see, I am looking for, oh, I won't tell you. After all, who it is doesn't matter, right? Well, I shall say that I am looking for someone. Someone that I wish to have a little fun with. This person is in need of some fresh torture. Unfortunately." The woman stepped closer, leaning forward ever so slightly. "This someone that I seek happens to be with someone that you know, that you hold dear to you."

Itachi turned towards her, his eyes their normal black now. But behind those eyes, a suspicious anger had alighted.

"I have a little friend that is in cahoots with your dear little brother, Uchiha, Sasuke." The woman smiled, closing her eyes.

"The half-demon succubus Chiyoko."

"How convenient that you know her name. Just like any good big brother would do, though. Always watching over your little brother."

Itachi remained silent.

"Well, now that I have your somewhat full attention, I can state my request."

Itachi narrowed his eyes once more. If there was a mention of Sasuke, then this had to do somewhat directly with Sasuke. And possibly Sasuke being in danger.

"I've gotten bored in the last few years, but I can't ever seem to find the right moment to engage my little Chiyoko in a little scuffle. What, with that revenge driven little brother of yours, it's been quite hard to get close to her. She is rather elusive as well." The woman smiled, examining Itachi's underlying feelings. "Oh, don't be so surprised. However secretive Konoha may be rumours still fly around. Anyways, since your dear brother would get in the way of my fun, I need some help to get him out of the picture. And that's where you come in!" The woman spread her arms out and then put her hands together in a happy clap.

Itachi merely fixed his hair when another breeze blew by.

"I need you to be a distraction to that brother of yours. And if we so happen to have the luck of him not being with Chiyoko, then the more the merrier! You can aid in my fun with my little girl. I've heard that you are quite the expert genjutsu user. What do you say?"

Itachi had thought that maybe he was in danger. Maybe Sasuke collaborating with Chiyoko would lead to something terrible. Maybe this woman was planning something evil. But no, it was only to give this woman some pleasure in conducting her sadistic practices. She was wasting his time.

"No." He turned around and began walking away.

"Hm, that's what I thought. This would have been much easier if you had complied, but I guess I'll have to deal with Sasuke somehow. Or."

Itachi had paused when the woman spoke of 'dealing with' Sasuke.

"Or, if you don't help me, I'll search out your little brother and take his life. Which would you prefer?"

Itachi didn't bother turning around. This woman was no 'woman'. She was a demon. Itachi could tell that much. Would Sasuke stand a chance against a demon, even with his strength? He doubted it. Maybe he can survive, but if not, if Sasuke is too weak… Itachi can't take that chance. This woman is blackmailing him write in front of his face.

"Fine." He replied. "I will aid you in your pursuit."

The woman smiled and clapped her hands rapidly. "I knew you would change your mind!"

Itachi paid no attention to her antics and continued walking. The demon followed, examining him. Yes, this was the right choice. One of the best plans she had to have fun. As long as Itachi was helping her, even if he didn't want to and probably despised her, she had gotten what she wanted.

And even if Itachi tried to kill her, he would be unsuccessful in every approach.

Thanks for reading! :D