Yuiko ran as fast as she was able, phasing her body through the trees and rock spikes that blocked her path.

Even from here, I can pick up Guy's scent perfectly without the need to heighten my sense of smell. It's conveniently disgusting.

Yuiko was making good time. She could already see the shore whenever she popped above the tree line, although she didn't spot anyone on the water. Trying not to panic as she approached the oceanfront, Yuiko came to a stop upon one of the countless large stone spikes that sprouted along the edge of the island. She shaded her eyes with one hand while scanning the horizon. Guy's scent was certainly still detectable, but he was nowhere to be seen. Yuiko cursed her poor sensory abilities. If Guy was underwater, all she could do was phase under and hope that the visibility would be clear enough for her to find him before it was too late.

A large patch of water suddenly began to shine in silver light. A swirling sphere of seawater rose above the surface. Yuiko gaped at it, noting that the sphere was at least the size of the ship they had sailed on to the island. The orb was steadily increasing in size and whipped up the seawater into a frothy vortex as it spun.

Without warning, the orb burst apart. The resulting blast of air nearly threw Yuiko off her perch. She activated her phase in time to avoid the ensuing tidal wave that filled her vision. For a few seconds, everything in her line of sight was completely underwater. Rays of sunlight shimmered over the trees, the tops of which swayed in the water like seaweed. It was almost peaceful … until the water began to rapidly recede. Trees were torn from their roots and tumbled past as they were sucked into the ocean. Boulders whizzed overhead and the stone spike beneath Yuiko jerked forward, but thankfully stayed put.

Yuiko's perch soon resurfaced and she deactivated her phase. She was subsequently soaked by the seawater that had been flung skyward and was now succumbing to gravity, but she hardly noticed as she stared at a familiar figure.

Guy was standing atop the water where the orb had once been. His body was encased in a glowing blue light, his skin a deep crimson. Floating face-up beneath his feet seemed to be Kisame. Yuiko looked on in amazement. If what she had just seen had been Guy … that kind of power was something she thought only Tailed Beasts could be capable of.

Without any warning, Guy flung his fist into Kisame's stomach. His opponent let out a choking cry of pain. Yuiko winced, noting that she really shouldn't be feeling bad for a member of the Akatsuki. However, she couldn't help but feel some sympathy having been on the receiving end of Guy's taijutsu.

Guy raised his head and looked about, pausing when he spotted her. Yuiko timidly raised one hand, giving him a wave.

"Oi, Yuiko!" He shouted, returning her wave with gusto. "No need to worry; I got the spy! Sorry you came all this way — I didn't leave you much to do, did I?" Guy threw back his head with a laugh.

He brought his attention back to his feet and noticed that Kisame's unconscious body had sunk beneath the surface. Guy began to scramble over the water, hastily reaching down to lift up his opponent.

Yuiko brushed her wet hair off her face before heading down to meet Guy over the water. Guy had flung Kisame's body over his shoulder, and the blue aura had faded to return him to his normal appearance. Yuiko suddenly stopped her approach as if she had hit an invisible wall.

"Hmm?" Guy said, watching her curiously. "What's bothering you, Yuiko?"

"N-nothing," Yuiko said, continuing her approach. The truth was that Guy smelled as if a bag of sweaty jumpsuits had been stuffed into a rotting whale carcass. Luckily, Yuiko could counteract this effect by activating her phase on her nose.

Yuiko matched Guy's stride as the two of them returned to the island. Guy was walking at a slow pace — which for everyone else translated to a brisk walk. Yuiko noted that he appeared uninjured, although it was possible that whatever he did was taking a greater toll on him than he was letting on.

The two of them were able to walk right up into the forest, since the wall of stone spikes that had suffered the brunt of the explosion had vanished. Yuiko looked about wide-eyed at the massive holes left behind from the trees that had been sucked out to sea. "Since when have you been so scary, Guy?" she asked, stepping over a tree that had fallen on its side.

Guy seemed to find this amusing. "No need to fear, Yuiko. I'm sure you could elevate yourself to my level with the right amount of dedication!"

Yuiko hopped down from the tree, landing at his side. "I don't know about that," she said skeptically. "I knew you were holding back when we sparred, but I had no idea it was by that much. Strength like that is inhuman."

"Not at all," Guy said, shaking his head. "That level of strength is very human. It's a stage anyone can reach if they accept that there is no limit. True strength is made up by perseverance and the drive to succeed. Trouble only arises when one becomes discouraged and believes that they can no longer rise above their current level. But as long as we are young, we can improve indefinitely!"

"If you say so," Yuiko said, admiring his optimism. "Either way, thanks for not annihilating me during training sessions."

"Don't think you're off the hook, Yuiko," Guy said with a wink. "I've always been curious how I'd hold up against a jinchūriki. In absence of my Eternal Rival, I need someone else to push my limits."

Guy caught something flash behind Yuiko's eyes, but she was quick to regain her pleasant expression. "I didn't know you hated me so much, Guy," she joked.

"Hate you?" Guy said, raising an eyebrow.

"If the two of us fought for real, you'd kill me for sure," Yuiko laughed.

"Don't sell yourself short!" Guy replied. "I'm sure you'd be a challenge!"

Yuiko shook her head. "Kokuō has a lot of raw power, but I don't have much experience using it."

Guy grinned. He shifted Kisame's unconscious form from one shoulder to the other as if the man weighed nothing at all. He clapped his hand on Yuiko's shoulder. "It sounds like I'm not the only one who could benefit from some additional training," he said enthusiastically.

Yuiko went pale. "N-no. That's not what I meant."

"You can't let our young friend Naruto leave you in the dust!" Guy said, punching the air. "You can easily train twice as hard as he can!"

Memories of waking up at three in the morning and being half dead on her feet as Guy ran (literal) circles around her before kicking her to the dirt filled Yuiko's mind. She started to panic. "You can't make me!" she squeaked. "I'm an jōnin now! Kakashi can't order me to —"

Yuiko fell silent. She turned her head away from Guy, clenching her fists. Guy's cheerful expression drained away as he studied her. He waited for Yuiko to continue her train of thought, but she didn't speak.

"Don't worry," Guy said solemnly. Yuiko turned her head, her eyes slightly wet. "He wouldn't be my Eternal Rival if he couldn't take care of himself," he continued, his expression brightening. "The three of us will be together again."

Yuiko met his gaze. She looked conflicted for a moment before smiling softly. "I'm glad you're here, Guy," she said. Guy beamed down at her; Yuiko stumbling slightly as he clapped her lightheartedly across the back.

The two of them came across the rest of their group in a large, grassy clearing about two miles from shore. B seemed to have recovered, and Yamato and Naruto were alright just as he had said. Aoba and Motoi regarded the captive Akatsuki member with a look of relief. Guy tossed Kisame off his shoulder as they reached the center of the clearing.

"Good work, you two," Yamato said, quickly activating a jutsu that sealed Kisame within a wooden stockade.

"I'm not even going to attempt to take any credit for this one," Yuiko said, smiling up at Guy.

"He was no match for the overwhelming power of youth! Poor guy never stood a chance," Guy said, striking a pose to Naruto's admiration.

Yuiko circled around Kisame, who still showed no sign of waking. "So what do we do with him?" she asked. Yamato looked to Aoba, who nodded in understanding of his serious expression.

Aoba approached Kisame, a stern look on his face. "I'm not as good as Inoichi," he said, placing his hand upon Kisame's forehead, "but if I'm able to do this, we can get some valuable intel on the Akatsuki and the identity of its leader. Here I go."

He placed the palm of his other hand on his own forehead, growing silent. It took Yuiko a few seconds to figure out what was happening before she recalled Aoba's special ability. She watched curiously, having never seen the Mind Transmission technique in person. She couldn't count the number of times she had aided Yamato in transferring a prisoner to the Intel Collection Department, but only Anbu captains were allowed inside the interrogation chamber.

"Can he really read that guy's mind, just like that?" Naruto asked, impressed.

"Mmm," Yamato nodded. "Aoba was being modest; he's one of the top users of the Mind Transmission technique in the village. He can filter through days of information in only a few minutes. It might take him a little longer, in this instance, if this man has any blockers on his memory, but he should be able to break through within an hour."

Naruto nodded, a serious expression on his face as he watched Aoba. After a few minutes he started to fidget, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. He looked around the clearing, his eyes shining with glee when a thought hit him. He stepped around Yamato, scooting next to Yuiko. "Hey, Yuiko," he whispered, poking her with his elbow. Yuiko looked over at him, raising her eyebrows expectedly. "Wanna see something cool?" Naruto said, a wide grin growing on his face as he fought to keep his voice down.

"Alright," Yuiko said skeptically. "And you don't have to whisper." Yuiko second guessed her statement, looking to Yamato for verification.

"We don't have to keep our voices down," Yamato confirmed. "Just don't get too close, physical contact could cause Aoba to lose his concentration."

"No problem!" Naruto said, grabbing Yuiko by the wrist and dragging her to the other side of the clearing. Naruto let go of her arm, jogging a few more paces before whipping around to face her. "I've got the Nine-Tails under control now!" he smiled. "Check this out!"

Yuiko looked on in awe as Naruto's skin caught alight. He stood before her, his entire body looking like it had been encased in glowing, yellow flames. The swirl pattern of the Uzumaki clan was imprinted in black on his stomach, with a prong-like pattern reaching around it.

He's created an entirely new seal, Yuiko thought, impressed. Guy was right; Naruto is already leaving me behind.

Yuiko slowly walked around him, studying the markings of the seal. Naruto stood still, only turning his head to keep her in his beaming expression.

"The Nine-Tails isn't giving you this chakra willingly," Yuiko said, her expression growing grim. Naruto's smile wavered. He crossed his arms as he put on a carefree expression.

"Yeah, well, that guy is pretty stubborn," he said. "But I'll get him to come around."

Yuiko smiled softly as she came to a stop before him. "I'm sure you will," she said. "The fact that you're able to control so much of its chakra on your own is pretty impressive. Just be careful not to draw on it too much; Kokuō has explained to me before what can happen if the Tailed Beast and jinchūriki fight over chakra."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Naruto said dismissively, putting his hands behind his head. "Octopops already told me about all that. I'll be careful, alright?"

"Alright," Yuiko chuckled. "I trust you."

Naruto smiled back at her, something popping up in his memory. A hint of sadness flashed across his face as he dismissed his chakra mode. "I saw my mom," he said. He was smiling, although his eyes seemed to convey a more melancholy expression.

"Kushina was …?" Yuiko's voice trailed off, recalling the trace amount of Minato's chakra she had sensed in Naruto's seal before.

They must have put some of her in there, too.

Yuiko looked back at Naruto, unsure of what to say. Luckily, Naruto had that covered. "She was a lot like me!" he chirped. "I wish I had gotten her hair color, though. Red would have been way cooler!"

Yuiko laughed at the mental image. "She did have pretty hair, but I can't really picture you with it."

"What?" Naruto said, his boisterous nature returning in full force. "I think it would be awesome! Then they could call me the 'Red Hot Naruto'!"

Yuiko laughed again; it had been awhile since she last heard Kushina's ridiculous nickname.

"I am kind of glad I didn't get her temper though," Naruto said, furrowing his brow. "She could get kind of scary. Like when I told her about how you left when I was little, oh man was she furious."

"WHY?!"

Yuiko was before him faster than he thought humanly possible. He flinched as she dug her fingers into his shoulders, a crazed expression in her eyes as she put her face inches from his. "Why would you tell her that?!"

Naruto recoiled, having never seen Yuiko with such a panicked expression. "I … I couldn't lie to my mom."

"No — you lie to her!" Yuiko shouted, removing her hands from his shoulders to bury them in her hair. "Your dad, you tell the truth. But your mom is the one you lie to if you don't want everything destroyed!" Yuiko turned away, bowing her head. "I can never die now. I'm going to have to live forever. If she finds me in the afterlife, I might as well be in hell."

Naruto burst out laughing, hugging himself around the middle. Yuiko glared at him from the corner of her eye.

"Mom said that would make you freak out," Naruto grinned, peering up at her. Yuiko's expression softened at the realization.

"Sorry," Naruto continued, wiping the corner of his eye. "When I told Mom you were around, she said this would be her last chance to get a good prank in."

Yuiko turned back to him, crossing her arms. "I'm still mad at you," she said, although the statement was counteracted by the smirk growing on her face.

"Like that'll last," Naruto said, putting his arms behind his head. "This isn't even as bad as what I did to the kitchen."

Yuiko reached out to ruffle his hair, quickly pulling her arm out of the way as Naruto flailed his arms about in defense.

"Children," Yamato called from across the clearing. He smirked, indicating them to come closer with a tilt of his head.

"Who is he calling a kid?" Naruto grumbled, feigning offense. Yuiko started to reply, when her attention was caught by a muffled scream. Her eyes snapped to Kisame, whose head was flailing about as blood exploded from his mouth.

"His tongue!" Aoba exclaimed, pulling his hand away. "He bit off his own tongue to wake himself up!"

Naruto and Yuiko exchanged a worried look, quickening their pace.

Kisame laughed maniacally, flexing his muscles in an unexpected show of strength. He broke free of the stockade, flinging Aoba backward as the group shielded themselves from the barrage of splinters.

"He doesn't know when to quit!" Guy yelled, balling his hands into fists.

"Capture him alive!" Aoba shouted from the ground. "We might not get a chance like this again!"

A stream of water burst from Kisame's mouth, forming a writhing globe around him. Guy dashed to take down Kisame with a punch, but his arm was unable to reach him through the rushing water.

"Move!" Yuiko shouted, running toward the sphere. Guy leapt back as Yuiko's fist entered the water, phasing through it. A mass of steam erupted from Kisame's outstretched hand, and Yuiko's punch instead landed on a summoned shark, knocking it out of the water sphere. The creature flew back, hitting a tree along the edge of the clearing with a sickening 'crack.'

Yuiko's momentum pushed her through the sphere, the two sharks still circling Kisame snapping at her as she phased through. Yuiko exited the water, turning on her heel as Kisame smirked at her.

"Don't panic!" Yamato shouted. "He's in a situation he can't escape from."

Suddenly, one of the sharks turned on its master, engulfing the man's face in its jaws. The other shark did the same, mercilessly tearing his body to pieces. The group watched in shock as the sharks made quick work of Kisame. The sphere, now permeated with his blood, exploded as the last of his chakra faded, and the sharks fell to the ground, poofing out of existence one by one. No one spoke for nearly a minute as they stared at the grass in disbelief.

"The Akatsuki member feared as the Scourge of Kirigakure," Yamato whispered. "It's hard to believe this is how he met his end."

"He did that so we couldn't get any intel," Naruto said, sternly regarding the blood-stained grass. "Even in the Akatsuki there was someone who put his comrades first."

Yuiko looked at Naruto in surprise. You can find the good in just about anyone, can't you? She thought.

"He may have been a foe, but he died admirably," Guy said, solemnly placing his hand upon Naruto's shoulder. "In any case, no intel was leaked." He reached into the breast pocket of his jacket, producing a scroll.

Motoi regarded the scroll with a grave expression. "We should go over the contents," he stated. "If we know what he was after, it will make counterintelligence easier."

Guy nodded in concurrence. "You're right," he replied, pulling at the edge of the scroll.

"Wait!" Yuiko shouted.

"Guy! Don't just —" Yamato yelled.

Water gushed up from the scroll like a geyser, engulfing them. The pressure from the water pushed down heavily upon Yuiko, attempting to force itself into her lungs.

A Water Prison jutsu?!

Yuiko phased through the water, gasping for air as she landed on all fours outside the sphere. She raised her head, noting that everyone else had been trapped in water spheres as well. The scroll floated about them, releasing sharks into the globes as it passed.

And a summon? His seal can do all of that, post-mortem? Who was this guy?

The scroll released a shark into her now-empty sphere, then started to spin in the air. Water shot out from one end of the scroll until it too was encased in water. Another shark popped out of the seal, snapping up the scroll in its jaws. The shark began to swim, moving the sphere through the air and toward the forest. Yuiko dashed under it and placed herself beneath the shark. She reached up, phasing through the water and the shark to wrap her fingers around the scroll. After it was imbued with her chakra, she pulled it back out.

Yuiko came to a stop at the edge of the clearing. The shark she had grabbed the scroll from turned about and began to circle her. The shark residing in the empty water prison joined it, and Yuiko watched cautiously as the two creatures closed in.

Yuiko cried out as a sharp pain ran up her arm. She looked down in alarm. The head of a shark had sprouted from the scroll in her hand, and had sunk its teeth deep within her forearm. Before she could react, another object launched itself from the scroll, its shape growing larger until she was staring back at another shark. Yuiko scrambled backwards as more and more sharks flew from the scroll, writhing and snapping at her from the grass. The two sharks in the orbs swooped down at her in an effort to rip off her arm. Yuiko phased through the attempt, pulling her bloody appendage to her side. She cursed when she noticed that the shark bite made her release her grip on the scroll.

The two flying sharks converged on something within the writhing mass before rising up in the air and taking off in opposite directions.

Shit.

Yuiko went after the one going left, leaping and phasing through the other sharks as she entered the forest. It didn't take her long to catch up to it, considering she could phase through the trees while the shark had to zigzag around them. Yuiko reached up and grabbed the retreating shark from around its tail. She dragged it down with all her might, a spray of water erupting from the orb as the shark was pulled free. The shark smacked against the ground, Yuiko following up with a punch to its eye. The shark disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Yuiko's eyes darted over the ground, an irate expression growing over her face. The scroll was nowhere to be seen.