V5 ch9

Flight (Continued)

Onari held onto the phoenix's feathers as it soared in the darkness. Akaihi was flying as fast as he could to get them out of the bottomless pit. Soon the phoenix leveled its flying. Onari looked up. She could see earth above their heads. "Takeru, Onari see dirt."

They all looked above as the flames from the bird's feathers flickered. Hire felt a sense of joy. "Takeru, you were right. There is always a way out," she said as her confidence became restored. Hire suddenly hugged Onari. Onari tensed at the unfamiliarity.

Daiya slowly stood on the back of the phoenix. His fingers raked along the earth as they flew. Dirt rained down. "We can't burrow through the rock. We're not moles."

"It seems we can't get past another roadblock of Fushigi's. Akaihi may have saved us, but how are we going to get out of here? Hire, this void of your brother's has to have an outlet. What is the point of being able to control a big hole?"

"I don't understand what you're getting at, Takeru," Hire said.

Daiya did. "He means this type of skill doesn't fit your brother's personality. All of the attacks we witnessed involved him being able to watch his opponent's moves. He enjoyed fighting as long as he could see the struggle of his enemy. Why would he put us in a large hole if he couldn't watch us?"

"He enjoys watching someone suffer, Hire. What makes you think he wouldn't want to see someone die by his own hand," Takeru asked. "How long can he keep us here?" He watched Hire think as Onari checked on the phoenix.

"I'm not sure. I have never seen Fushigi fight.. It was rare for our Father to use him against an enemy. All I know is Fushigi behaves for Nattoku. Most of the time, at home, Fushigi is in his room, or he is guarded by another of my brothers. He's power hungry," Hire said confirming their thoughts.

"You need to taunt him," Daiya said. He crossed his arms as he kept his stern gaze on her. "We won't know what we're up against until you do. That bastard is holding the cards right now. If he has free rule over this abyss, he can crush us at his own disposal. Why do you think he hasn't killed us already?"

"Fushigi is afraid of Father and Nattoku. They are stronger than he is. If he were to harm me, it would be my life over his. I am the only female left from our family since my mother died. Our clan is small. Father views me as a valuable asset to carry on our family traditions," Hire explained.

"Challenge him like Daiya says, Hire. It may be the only way out of here," Takeru said as Akaihi suddenly dropped. He yelped as they grabbed onto the bird for dear life. Takeru felt his stomach go into his throat. It was thirty seconds before the phoenix was flapping its large wings again. "Onari, what happened?"

Onari sat up looking around rather bewildered. Her chest was rising and falling fast. She was alert. That stunt had scared the life out of her. "A-Akaihi tired."

Daiya crawled over to his sister. He pressed her to him tenderly to try and consol her. "Hire, we can't stay here. Who knows how much longer Onari's phoenix can stay in the air. Challenge, Fushigi!"

Hire wanted to challenge her entire family, but right now, she had to worry about where they were. The time and place for such a thing were not going to be hers to decide. Onari was scared. Hire had to admit, she was, too. She slowly stood to her feet, afraid the bird was going to drop again. "Fushigi, you low-life coward! Face me and stop hiding in the shadows," she yelled to the top of her lungs. She waited. There was only silence.

Onari tried to hide in Daiya's vest when she heard laughing coming out of nowhere. Daiya held onto her harder. The laughing was coming from all directions. Her yellow eyes searched for any signs of the source.

"How are you enjoying the darkness dear sister," Fushigi asked with a hint of playfulness on his lips. "I see one of you has conjured a pigeon to stop yourselves from falling. Interesting. Oh, by the way, I am not falling for it, Hire. I took over the compound."

Hire's eyes went wide.

"Ashioto is dead. The ANBU were nice enough to clean his carcass off of the ground for me," Fushigi said as Hire gasped. "And it seems as long as I have Izumi Uchiha to keep me company, I can't be touched by Sasuke. He has no idea where his brats are. It's fun to know I have you all under a plate of glass," he said laughing more, his voice becoming louder in the darkness.

"Fushigi, you ass! Your fight is with me! Leave them out of this," Hire yelled back at her insane brother.

Takeru sat numbly clinging to Akaihi's feathers. His father was searching for them. Fushigi had his mother. Hire's brother could kill her, or use them against everyone. "M-Mom…"

Hire turned her head to look at Takeru. He was separated from the two people who protected him. "Takeru, don't doubt her! Fushigi will mess up! When he does, she'll strangle him."

"They've always protected him, Hire. That is why he is worried. We are in real trouble. Fushigi is out of control. Unless someone stops him, we're going to plummet to our deaths," Daiya said angrily.

Engi signaled his group to be quiet as they moved around the compound. He figured Fushigi had retreated to his home. It was a better ground for the man to stand on. They were at a disadvantage with an earth user. He was sure Fushigi was able to get readings from the ground about their locations. It was a specialty of the clan. He hid behind a tree as he signaled two of his men to test that theory.

Itaru and Jigen moved through the area quickly. Itaru looked around as he wore his rabbit mask. There was no sign of Fushigi, or Izumi Uchiha. There was not any sign of movement either. He signaled Jigen to run straight at the house parallel to him. They were off.

Jigen kept his pace matched with Itaru's despite the added weights to his legs. He was sure Fushigi would pick up his movements before he picked up Itaru's. It was due to the weight displayed with his movements. The earth his feet treaded on did not feel as firm to him as it should. It felt as if he was running on soft dirt. No sooner had he thought that, the ground started to give way.

Itaru started to dart towards his friend. As he did, he unleashed a chain with a claw at the end towards Jigen. It wrapped around Jigen's wrist as he fell into the black hole. Itaru skidded his heels into the ground as his teammate dangled. Itaru watched as the ground started to close over the hole. He swore. Jigen's tiger mask disappeared from his view under the earth. He fell onto his rear as the chain snapped.

Engi gritted his teeth. It is just as I thought. He is going to know where we are. Now we have lost Jigen. There has to be a way to get that guy to show himself. He sent Koshii and Itaru to take to the roof immediately.

Koshii kept his eyes peeled. SHe did not trust the surroundings. "Sir, how is he anticipating our moves so quickly," she asked as her ox mask turned to look upon Engi's rat mask.

"He's sensing the shift in weight upon the ground. I had Jigen wear weights around his legs to prove that theory. He would not be stupid enough to remain in the house. They're only decoys," Engi said. "I was told by Namanie that Fushigi has trapped Sasuke Uchiha's sons, Hire, and a foreign girl named Onari."

"It seems someone wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Aiming his goals quite high, too," Itaru said with disapproval. He looked over the area where Jigen had last stepped. "There has to be a way to fool this guy. Perhaps we should make an obstacle course for him."

Koshii tilted her head. "An obstacle course? How so?"

"He is sensing our movements on the ground. Therefore, we should add more objects to the surface. Think of the ground below us as water. If there is a fish you want to trap, you do so by stepping on the stones. The fish cannot find you if you are out of the territory," Itaru stated.

Group B started to turn over heavy statues by pulling them down with chains. It was not an easy task to perform. Some of the statues took all three of them to push over. As the ground became covered with stones, the earth around the house sunk slightly inward. Koshii moved away. "Captain!"

Engi and Itaru took to the trees. He snickered. "We've confused him. All of the extra weight added to the ground has sent him panicking. Look!" He crouched as he pointed. The earth was sinking at each statue. "He doesn't know where we are."

"That's great, but how can we taunt him to come out," Itaru asked.

Hayaru from Group A arrived at the compound. His orders were to find Engi. What the heck as been going on here? There were statues littering the ground. "Captain Engi, I have orders from the Hokage."

Engi met Hayaru on the roof with his group. "Orders?" He glanced at the ground continuing to move the statues around.

"The Hokage has sent Captain Aoi's group to retrieve Yakedo and his son. They are going to intercept them before they reach their allies. It was learned from Sasuke Uchiha that there is talk of war between Yakedo's clan and the Inuzuka clan," Hayaru blurted out. "Konoha will be on high alert if Yakedo cannot be found."

"Understood. What are my group's orders," Engi asked as Koishii unsheathed her short sword.

Hayaru bowed low. "Captain Kaizoku's group is to assist Captain Engi. It has been found out that by analyzing the subject, he is not mentally stable. We are to authorized to move forward and to use all means possible in taking down the subject."

"We'll wait for the rest of Kaizoku's group to get here. All we can do is wait right now. There's no telling where Fushigi is, or where he has hidden Izumi Uchiha," Engi decided.

Takeru looked at the man Akaihi had caught some time ago. He wore a tiger mask. "You're an ANBU, aren't you?" The man nodded slowly. "Were you sent to find us?"

"No, we were testing Fushigi's connection to the earth

around him," Jigen said as he took the weights off his legs. He threw them over the side of the large bird. It was no surprise when there was not a sound. "He sensed me and sunk me into this – whatever this is," he said as he waved his hand about to issue the darkness. Jigen turned his head to see a pair of unusual yellow eyes watching him.

Onari pointed at the mask. "Boy tiger," she said with her broken speech. "Onari no see face. Where is boy's face?"

"Onari, he's an ANBU. His face is behind the mask. Don't get so close to him," Daiya said as he pulled her back. "ANBU are the ones that protect Konoha."

"Well, Uchiha will be happy to know you kids are alright. However, I'm not sure hot to get out of this place," Jigen stated. The darkness was endless around them.

"If Fushigi is killed, the pit will collapse," Hire told the ANBU. "He's the one controlling it. He has to be the one to let us out."

Takeru flipped his head around. "You failed to tell us that!" He practically lunged at her.

"I wasn't going to alarm any of you at the time, Takeru. We have enough to worry about," Hire shot back. "We have to give the other a chance!"

"The both of you knock it off," Daiya said lowly. "It doesn't change anything. We are stuck in this place right now. Let's concentrate on staying alive."

Kiba stood with his clan outside. They were gathered in a large circle with their dog companions. Akamaru breathed slowly as he lay near his feet. The dog was up in his age. Kiba could not let Akamaru fight or participate when he trained his team. He was afraid the dog's life was ending. As his clan discussed the Hokage's decision, he glanced at Areku. His son was stiffly sitting, listening to all that was being said.

Areku could not believe what his ears were hearing. Hire's father had been planning to attack his clan for some time. Not only that, but she had warned them against the wishes of her clan. His mind hovered on her faintly smiling face. Hire was missing along with Daiya, Onari, Takeru, and Mrs. Uchiha. Fushigi had killed one of Hire's brothers. "Father, is this happening be-because of me?"

The Inuzuka clan stopped talking. They turned around to look at Areku. Kiba's mother approached the boy. She kneeled to look into her grandson's eyes. "Areku, war does not occur when two people care for each other. It is when there is ignorance from one side, that leads to trouble. It is not because of you. Yakedo, Hire's father has something against the Inuzuka. We cannot back down. We have to fight to protect our own. You are not the one to blame."

"I think Hire's missing due to the fact that she warned us. She would not want another clan to annihilate another. It's poor timing is what it is. Her brother made the decision to act now. I think it is because there was no one to stop him. Stop blaming yourself, Areku. Mom is right. We all choose our own paths," Kiba said trying to make him understand.

"I want to find Hire and the others," Areku said as he stood up determined to change the paths he saw before them.

"Hold on, nephew. The ANBU are trying to locate them. You must stay with the clan despite how hard that may be. If you leave our domain, some harm can befall you. Do not act rashly. I know you care for Hire, but she is with the others. They are all looking after each other," Hana expressed with sympathy.

"This meeting is not for children," Kiba's mother said. She started to push Areku off. "Stay with the others in the house. You can help keep an eye on them."

"But Nana," Areku started. He sighed. They shooed him on. Areku went back to the house with his mind on Hire.

Sasuke punched a tree in the yard. He gritted his teeth. That bastard has taken my entire family! He pressed his forehead against the bark. Fushigi could very well slaughter them, if he has not already. His heart ached.

Takeru splashed in the bathtub as he moved his boat along the water. His big gray eyes looked up at Sasuke as he put a large sailboat into the water. "Daddy, you fixed my boat?"

"Yeah, I sure did. Next time, be careful about carrying it down the steps, okay?" Sasuke pushed the boat to his son. Takeru had been trying to show his dad the boat his mother had built. The poor kid had tripped and fell down the steps on the back porch. He had scrapped his knees and elbows badly. Sasuke had had to attend to the wounds as Takeru cried. It was to be expected. He was only four-years-old.

Takeru jumped at his father in the water. He laughed loudly as Sasuke caught him. Sasuke blew on the space where his neck and shoulder met. Takeru squealed as it tickled his skin. He put his small hands on his father's face. "Daddy, I love you forever and ever until the cow's come home."

Sasuke kissed his son's cheek. "So if the cow's come home, you won't love me anymore?" He watched Takeru tilt his head, letting his long hair flop to where it covered his face.

"I'll make an exception for you, Daddy," Takeru said as he kissed his father. He put his head on his chest as he played for a bit. Soon his mother came in to get him. "Mama, look! He fixed it!"

"He did? Wow, your daddy made it twice as new, huh? Are you ready to get out of the tub?" Takeru shook his head. "No? Do you have raisin fingers and toes," Izumi asked. Takeru checked his hands and feet. "Then it's time to get out. Your father still needs to bathe. Come on," she coaxed. Takeru bounced through the water until Izumi plucked him up.

Takeru held onto his father as he laid his head down. He saw a man and woman holding hands. They were blushing as they passed. "Mommy, why are they acting funny? Are they sick?"

Izumi smiled at her pre-schooler. "No, Takeru, they're in love. I think they were recently married." She ran the side of her finger down his cheek. "You're a sleepy boy."

"I want to marry my daddy," Takeru said rather softly as he started to drift off into sleep. "I love my daddy." His eyes closed as he breathed softly.

Sasuke caught the expression on his wife's face. "What did he say?" He watched Izumi smile tenderly at their son.

"He said he wanted to marry you, Sasuke. Takeru said he loves you." She could not help but laugh. Sasuke was stumped. "He's too young to know what it means. I think it's his way of saying he wants to stay with you."

Sasuke looked down at the small boy. He was comfortably lying against him. I want to stay with you, too, Takeru.

Sasuke punched the tree again. Takeru was still his little boy. Regardless of the advancements, he was having with his training, or what he learned in life, Takeru still needed him. His son was his whole world. Every time Sasuke took a mission, he kept his family in mind. He did it for them. They were the reason he was not going to let anyone get him down. That boy's smile was what he lived for. They are not dead. Izumi will get past that novice. He is not as advanced as she is. Takeru is with Onari and Daiya. They are still alive. They have to be! Onari has Akaihi. Sasuke's eyes widened. The phoenix. He had forgotten about the celestial bird. Onari summons it when her life is in danger. She would have summoned it when they fell. I know they are still alive. He looked back at the ground. I am betting on it.

Izumi Uchiha awoke in an odd place. It was cold and dark. Her fingertips brushed the ground. She sat up slowly. What had happened? She touched her head. It was hurting slightly on the space where she had been struck. The last thing she remembered was fighting Fushigi's mud creatures. The children. Izumi stood quickly only to hit her head against the roof. She swore.

"Enjoying my prison, Izumi Uchiha," Fushigi said from

the darkness. He half-formed his body out of the earthen wall. The woman did not know where he was in the small alcove. "Your children are enjoying my bottomless pit rather well. Although, they seem to have a giant orange pigeon that's stopped their decent for the time being," he said rather annoyed.

Izumi's heart skipped. Fushigi had her kids. Orange pigeon? Izumi's mind flashed to a specific night at the beginning of the summer. A small red and orange bird had flown through the campfire starling Takeru and Idai. Izumi smiled. "Apparently, you don't believe in learning about your opponents before you strike. Those kids are Konoha's new Genin. You have underestimated them, Fushigi. All four of them are trained by Sasuke at on point, or another."

Fushigi narrowed his eyes. "Strong words for a caged snake. There is no way out of my pit! I alone control it!"

Izumi had distracted him long enough. Her hand seals were complete as she smirked. "Summoning jutsu! Suiren!" She heard Fushigi yell angrily as her water moccasin formed around her. Suiren's yellow eyes were useless in the dark, but her tongue was not. The snake hissed as its tongue flickered. It lunged for the man with her jaws open. Fushigi gacked as Suiren's fangs sunk into his neck. "I warned you not to touch my family. Goodbye, brother of Hire." The man's form fell over as the poison paralyzed him.

Suiren started to burrow through the soil forcefully with her head. Izumi was using water to soften the dirt to help the snake. Suiren continued to burrow as the earth crumbled down upon them. Soon the snake popped her head through the hole from the tunnel she had made. The snake lifted her large head fully to examine the area. She flicked her tongue before exiting the trap. Izumi crawled out of the hole coughing. She was greeted by several ANBU who helped her out.

Captain Kaizoku greeted Izumi with a bow. "I see he wasn't able to defeat the most beautiful water charmer in all of Konoha." He smiled under his rooster mask.

Izumi blushed as she tried to recognize the voice. "Kaizoku? The Hokage made you a Captain?" She could almost see him grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, what's the world coming to?"

"What of the kidnapper Fushigi," Captain Engi asked as he stepped forward. "He is to be taken in for the murder of Ashioto." He watched Izumi point down the tunnel she had crawled out of.

"His crimes have already been justified. Suiren bit him. There isn't an escape from a water moccasin's fangs," Izumi said with satisfaction. "Where are my children," she asked taking the focus off herself.

"We have not located the missing kids. We assumed Fushigi would have had you all together. I suppose our foresight is not as keen as it should be," Kaizoku admitted. "Yakin, would you alert Sasuke that Izumi is safe?" Yakin was off. "We honestly have no way of knowing where Fushigi would have hidden the children."

"He mentioned something about a bottomless pit. Such a thing is not relatively possible. There is always a way out. I can only hope those four find it," Izumi said. They were at a huge disadvantage in knowing a psychotic's train of thought.

Daiya heard a horrible sound as they flew through the darkness. It sounded very much as if the sky was falling. Everyone around him stopped. The bottomless pit was collapsing. "AKAIHI! FLY!"

Jigen held onto the feathers of the phoenix as it took off at high speed. The phoenix started to echo its cries through the darkness to miss falling boulders. He wondered if they were going to survive.

Takeru shielded Onari from the falling rocks. A few fist sized ones hit his body. He yelped in pain. He soon looked up to see the man wearing the ANBU gear shielding him in return.

Daiya was air punching his electrical charges at rocks that came too close to hitting them. He breathed hard. The world around them was collapsing faster than he was able to deflect. He felt Hire pull him down.

"It's no good! You cannot ward off an entire mountain! Trust the bird! He's trying his best to avoid them," Hire said as Akaihi maneuvered around a large boulder. Hire was thrown away from the others. Her body rolled off the bird. She grabbed onto the feathers at the last moment before she fell to her death. Hire's body dangled as the large bird flew.

"Shit!" Daiya went after her. Hire was trying to hold on despite the bird flying. He caught onto her wrists just as the feathers came out. Daiya looked behind his form as he felt someone grab onto his legs to steady him. It was the man with the tiger mask.

"Pull her up quickly!" Jigen kept his hold on the boy. "Hurry!" He swore the bird was flying faster.

Daiya pulled her up with all of his strength. Akaihi maneuvered again causing Hire's weight to shift. He held onto her heard. Once the bird's flight leveled out, he pulled her the remainder of the way.

"Someone must have killed Fushigi," Hire shouted over the noise. "It's the only reason why the pit would collapse like this!" She covered her head as debris fell on her.

Takeru looked around at the group. "How much you want to be it was my mom?" Akaihi blew fire out of his mouth at the all of earth it finally encountered. The earth blew apart. Takeru shielded his eyes as sunlight came through. He held on tightly as the phoenix shot out of the mountainside.

Onari turned her head as Akaihi gave a warning sound. Her heart raced as the phoenix flew over a river. "No, Akaihi! Onari hate water," she screamed as the bird's form started to deteriorate in the sky.

"Oh, no! He is worn out! We're falling," Hire screamed as the group fell from the sky. They went straight into the cold river below. She came up coughing as the water moved them down stream.

Daiya swam to shore with Onari panicking. He coughed several times. Takeru and Hire were behind being led by the ANBU whose name they did not know. He flopped onto the ground breathing hard. Onari was shaking the water off. Daiya sat up to look around the area. "I have no idea where we are." He stood soaking wet.

Jigen had no choice but to remove the tiger mask. It was full of water. He poured it out. The kids turned to look at him. He shook his red hair letting it frizzle. Jigen kicked the ground aggravated. He stopped to notice the staring kids. "I'm Jigen, by the way."

Hire rung her hair out as she looked back at the way they had come. "It really was a mountain we were in." She wondered who had ended her insane brother's life.

Takeru helped Jigen gather firewood. They needed to

get warm. Twilight was upon them. He threw the sticks into a pile. Takeru formed hand seals. "Fire jutsu!" He blew fire to get the campfire lit.

"I hate to say this, but we need to get out of our wet clothes. We're going to get sick if we stay in them," Hire said. The boys froze.

"She's right," Jigen said. "Girls on one side of the camp, Guys on the other. Would you mind forming a wall of sorts?" Hire obliged. The campfire was split into two as a large clay wall formed. "Now we don't have to worry about anyone being embarrassed." Jigen threw his armor to the ground. He strung his clothes on a stick line.

Takeru stood in the nudge. He wondered why Daiya was choosing to stay covered. "Daiya, you're going to get sick." His brother backed away. "What's wrong?"

"I don't want anyone to see my scars," Daiya said lowly.

Jigen stirred the fire. "It's not time to be bashful. No one is going to make fun of you. You need to wear your scars like a trophy." The boy stared at him. "Scars are a type of showmanship. It's proof to what you have endured to gain strength and knowledge. It's also a warning to others that you are stronger than they can imagine."

Daiya thought about what Jigen said. He took his vest off. Takeru kept his eyes on him as he unraveled the wet bandages around his chest, abdomen, and arms. Takeru slowly lifted his fingers to touch the scars on Daiya's body. "Now do you realize why I never changed in front of you?"

Takeru nodded slowly. "Who did this to you," he asked rather softly. Daiya tensed under his touch. "Daiya?"

"It's not important," Daiya said moving away. He sat on the ground with his legs crossed. Daiya jumped slightly when he heard Hire yell.

"Ow! A mosquito bit my butt cheek," she said from the other side of the wall. Hire rubbed her rear.

Sasuke sat on his bed holding Izumi. His cheek was rested on the top of her head as she slept. He pulled the covers around her form. Fushigi was dead. It was the best news to him; however, the kids were still missing. He was deeply troubled to their whereabouts. Kaizoku's group had been ordered to search around Konoha while Engi's group stayed within the walls. Sasuke closed his eyes. Please find them. Izumi moved to get comfortable.

Sasuke leaned back. It was hard to sleep with his sons missing. He found himself worrying about Daiya just as much as Takeru. He was accustomed to them being at the house. Sasuke soon drifted off to sleep with his hand on the back of Izumi's head.

Captain Aoi of Group C of the ANBU signaled his men to intercept Yakedo and his son. The two men were staying at an inn in a small village in the fire country. He waited as Sendo and Chasaji moved across the roof in the darkness.

Chasaji used his short sword to break the lock on the window. He covered his hand with a piece of cloth before he broke through the glass. Sendo lifted the window quickly once Chasaji had thrown a smoke bomb into the room. They darted in to retrieve the men.

Yakedo awoke to the room being filled with smoke. "Nattoku, get up! The building is on fire," he called to his son. As he rose out of the bed, he felt a figure grab onto him. "Who are you," he demanded as he felt the blade of a sword press against his throat.

Nattoku's arm was twisted behind his back. He glared at the man wearing the snake mask. They were being arrested by the ANBU. He groaned as the man forced him to move. Nattoku ducked his head as he was led out of the window.

Aoi looked over the tow men in retrospect. "Good job. You are Yakedo and Nattoku, correct?" The men stood staring him down. He signaled for Sendo and Chasaji to press their blades deeper into their throats.

Nattoku winced as the short sword cut his throat. "We are! Dammit, we are! What do you want with us?"

"The Hokage has ordered the capture of Yakedo and Nattoku for treachery against the Hidden Leaf Village on grounds of trying to annihilate the Inuzuka clan. You are hereby escorted to prison where you will remain until your hearing." Namanie rolled the scroll up. She clipped it to her belt.

Nattoku gritted his teeth. They had been found out. He suspected Hire the moment the woman wearing the monkey mask said 'Inuzuka'. That disobedient wench. She informed the Hokage about our plans – my plans!

"Don't' say anything," Yakedo said as they were escorted back to the village in the darkness. "They'll use it against us!" He ughed as a man wearing a boar mask punched him in the stomach.

"Traitors hold no tongues," Sendo said with disgust. The men were gagged and hands were bound before they continued their journey home. They had caught the two men just in time.

Naruto Uzumaki sighed with relief as he watched the ANBU capture Yakedo and Nattoku. "Thank goodness. They caught them. War has been prevented." He felt Hinata wraps her arms around his shoulder. He turned away from the crystal ball. Masaru was watching him. "Masaru, why are you awake at this hour?"

"Have they found Takeru and the others yet," he asked as he stood in his pajamas.

"No, I have a group searching for them. They will find them, Masaru. Do not worry. We are not giving up home. Keep your heart open, son. Go back to bed now. We have to let the ANBU do their jobs," Naruto said. Hinata put her arms around their son. She led him back to his room. Naruto turned around to look at the darkened crystal ball.

Izumi walked out onto the back porch. She had taken a hot bath requested by her husband to ease her weary mind. Her feet padded softly on the wooden floor as she carried a pitcher of water. She looked up. Izumi dropped the jug. It shattered on the porch. "SASUKE!"

Sasuke ran to the back porch. He thought they were under attack again. As he shoved the Shoji screen aside, he stopped. Standing in the garden were Kaizoku and his group of ANBU. With them were four dirty, hungry kids. He stopped off the porch not believing his eyes. He and Izumi ran to them.

Izumi cried hard as she grabbed Takeru and Hire into her arms. She kissed both of them repeatedly. Her hands went up to cup each one of their faces. "Are you alright? Oh, by the blessings of the Hokage, you guys are back!"

Sasuke held Onari and Daiya tightly. The kids breathed him in as he pressed them to his form. He checked both of them over to make sure they were all right. "How did the four of you manage to escape Fushigi's bottomless pit?"

"Akaihi, sensei," Hire said with a smile. "Don't you know phoenixes are as strong as they are beautiful?" She blushed as Izumi hugged her again.

Sasuke turned to Onari. "Firebird, you saved everyone from a horrible death." He crouched then lifted his body to kiss her cheek. Onari looked at him shyly. "You're an amazing kid, you know?"

"Sasuke, Onari stomach talk," she said.

"Sensei, Hire's stomach talks, too," Hire confirmed.

"So does Takeru's," Takeru said.

"Yeah, well, mine's roaring," Daiya said as they laughed at him.

"Everyone deserves a nice hot bath while I cook, alright?" Izumi watched Sasuke lead the kids inside. She bowed low to the ANBU. "Thank you very much for bringing our children home. We are forever in debt to you, Captain Kaizoku."

Kaizoku bowed in return with his group. "It is we who are in debt, Mrs. Uchiha. Onari saved one of our friends who had fallen into Fushigi's trap. She is an amazing child. I can't wait to see what befalls those who challenge her." He and his group dissipated.

Izumi looked off into the sky. She closed her eyes as the wind blew win her direction. We were destined to know that girl. Izumi walked inside to prepare a feast to celebrate the return of her family.

Hire and the boys ate until they were about to bust. She was sad about her brother, Ashioto, being killed by Fushigi. He was only four years older than she was. Her father and Nattoku had been captured by the ANBU, too. They never made it to their allies in the north. There would not be a war against the Inuzuka. She stared at the table as Izumi picked their plates up.

Takeru was a bit on the edge. He was not used to his family being threatened or someone breaking into his home. Now that he knew the Uchiha compound was penetrable, he found himself looking around the room a lot. Daiya was tenser than he normally was and Onari seemed to jump at sudden movements.

Sasuke watched all of them as he leaned against the

counter. They had had a traumatic experience. "Perhaps we would keep an eye on them until the memory fades from their minds."

Izumi agreed. "I'll set the futons in the living room." She walked off to retrieve them.

Takeru moved rather close to Daiya as they laid on their futon. He could not manage to close his eyes for long. Daiya was still tense. Takeru thought he was going to break apart from all of the tension. He gasped hard as his mother rubbed his back.

"Guys, it's okay. Sasuke and I are not leaving the room. We're standing guard," Izumi said as she looked over the kids. Even Onari and Hire were uneasy.

"M-Mom, can you get Lee sensei, Kiba, and Mr. Hyuga to stand guard, too," Takeru asked softly.

"Takeru," Izumi said as she rubbed his back. "The dead don't come back. Fushigi is gone. Suiren bit him."

Sasuke crouched in front of Daiya and Takeru. He placed his hands on the top of their heads to block their chakra. "Shh," he said calmly. It took a moment, but both of them soon eased their bodies. He removed his hands. "Works every time. Girls, you two are next," he said. Sasuke placed his hands on the top of Onari and Hire's heads to block their chakra. It was not long before they soon joined Daiya and Takeru in dreamland.

A large, unhappy man shoved Nattoku into his prison cell. He glared at the guard as scrolls were placed on the outside. If he chose to get near them, they would light fire and explode. His father had been sent to another section of the prison. I will get you for this, Hire. When you least expect it, I will be free!

Hire woke to Izumi shaking her. She turned over slowly. "Ms. Izumi?"

"You have a visitor," Izumi said with a smile.

Hire sat up slowly. "Huh? What? A visitor?" She walked out of the living room slowly. Her feet padded softly to the entrance of the house. Hire stopped. Areku was looking at her. She ran to him and leapt. He immediately caught her. She hugged him tightly around his neck. Hire blushed as he kissed her.

"I was hoping to give you this under different circumstances," Areku said as he held the tiger lily out for her. She took it. "Are you alright? How are the others? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine," she said as she kissed his cheek tenderly. "We're all a bit shaken up, but we'll be okay. Is your clan alright?"

Areku ran his hand through her long black hair. "They're actually disappointed the war was cancelled. Hire, I know this is sudden, but I'd like to have the honor of dating you."

Hire's heart almost leapt out of her chest. "You still find me attractive after all of this mess?" He interlaced his fingers with hers to answer her.

"It wasn't you that did those bad things, Hire. You are free now. Your father and brother are in prison. They will have to face the Hokage for seeking to attack my clan." Areku breathed her in hard as she laid her head on his chest.

"Areku, I don't have a home now. I do not know if it is safe for me anymore. Nattoku will seek revenge against me. My father will not survive a prison. He is too refined for such a lifestyle. I'll stay with you as long as I can," Hire said as she looked up into his wild eyes. Areku's eyes softened. Her heart fluttered as his nose touched hers.

"I won't let them touch you, Hire. To anger an Inuzuka is foolish. We're stronger than your father, or your brother assume," Areku said softly as he kissed her gently the moment he ran his fingers down her pale cheek. He would protect Hire as she had protected his clan.