Chapter 27

"You're not joking." Hiruzen whispered as Inojiro looked back down at his own notes and theories on Minashi's mental scape.

"No. Her mind is incredible." Inojiro chuckled excitedly. "I've never seen one so complex Sarutobi. That why when her physical body gets older, I want to request to show Inoichi. I want to be able to let him in. One, I'll not always be head of T&I or Clan Head. She'll need someone she can trust. If I can get them to start working together sooner rather than later, then we'll be able to also try to figure out how she is even able to do this. This is Thousands upon tens of thousands of memories residing within her own mind. This is physically impossible. And to be able to bring them with her?"

Hiruzen lifted a hand and Inojiro settled down. "I cannot authorize anything. All we can do is put a request through and Minashi will have the option to accept or deny the request. You are correct in the fact that she will need others, that will be closer to her physical age, to be in the know of her situation. Until then, you will just have to enjoy the time that you do get in her mind." He said chuckling at the end.

Inojiro gave the Hokage a sheepish look. "I wish i could end all my days walking her mind. It's beautiful, even with its scars."

Chakra flared and the Privacy seal went down. Hiruzen and Inojiro jumped up ready to fight, but Minashi just appeared on the windowsill. Her blue eyes were narrowed on Hiruzen. He sighed and relaxed back.

The Privacy seal went back up when Minashi as Kitsune stepped in.

"I take it team Cheetah found you." he sighed.

"Why didn't I get a summons? What would have happened if they hadn't found me?"

"I was waiting on more intel to decide on if you were to attend or not."

"When are you expecting it?" She narrowed sharp blue eyes on him.

Hiruzen lifted his pipe to regard her. "Orochimaru and Jiraiya went to go meet with one of Jiraiya's contacts. Them and Tsunade will also be going with you and Team Cheetah to act as back up and/ or act as an extraction team. Tsunade's Medic-nin program is just starting. She doesn't have anyone else trained to go in her place."

"Just what is this mission?" She asked narrowing her eyes.

Hiruzen held her gaze for a few beats.

"Infiltration and extraction." Minashi blinked confused.

"okay...and?"

"Execution if extraction is not possible." he finished.

Minashi looked at Hiruzen. "Explain further." She said firmly.

Hiruzen sighed and put his pipe down. "A few days ago, our spies reported that two valuable informants in Iwa were caught. When bodies were not sent back, we believed that they are still being held for torture and interrogation."

"You're not telling me something Sarutobi." She pointed out. "Who is it?"

"The Sand Siblings."

Minashi frowned and tried to internally look for Information that fit that. She knew of only one set of Sand Siblings. They were Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara. But they were ten years too soon to be born.

"Who?" She asked.

"Yashamaru and Karura of the Sand. They are mistake for twins, but-"

"Karura is older. Yashamaru is her little brother." Minashi finished as she realized what was going on. "Gaara's mom. I don't understand. Even If I didn't go on this mission, they would live. Wait- why are we ever tasked with this mission?" She asked frowning.

"Because I've sent the Third Kazekage an alliance. I got word just before Danzo's trial that he'd accepted. Yashamaru and Karura are two of his best ANBU agents for their age. They had been undercover for a year in Iwa. Part of the alliance was sharing details and providing support if another war was to come to either's soil."

Minashi started at Hiruzen before she felt her hackles raise. "Who ordered their execution if we are unable to extract them?" She snarled.

"The Kazekage." Hiruzen said watching Minashi closely.

Minashi took a threatening step closer to Hiruzen. "You send a message to The Kazekage. That as soon as I have finished retrieving his people, I'm going to be paying him a special visit for his disrespect of his own Shinobi."

"You cannot." Hiruzen ordered firmly. "This is a new alliance. An alliance we will need before this third war starts. Skirmishes have already begun breaking out along all our boarders. The last place we need to be defending is against boarders that stretch the furthest against ours. I'm also already looking to Build alliances with the Kawa no Kuni that rests between us. The last war devastated the smaller nations. The least we can do is start building alliances and preparing to protect them this time."

Minashi looked at him in disbelief. "Are you KIDDING ME?! THIS!" She shouted. "THIS is why I DIDN'T and Haven't told you about the future! You are changing things! We never had an alliance with Suna this early. We didn't even have and alliance with Kawa no Kuni."

"Is it that bad?" Inojiro asked. "This could save lives."

Minashi snapped her mouth shut and ground her teeth together. "You don't know that." she grit out.

"And you don't know if it will take lives." Hiruzen countered. "With the information I have from all my sources, I am doing my damndest to protect my village." Hiruzen bit out. "I was lenient when it came to our internal threats because I had been letting things slip. That was me fixing my mistakes. Now I am protecting my people. I am trying to take a step forward towards a future that didn't end like yours. We already know that you have lost a major advantage when Danzo was killed, when my students got back together-"

"Jiji-" Minashi started.

"NO!" He stood and gave her a firm eye. "This is my decision. I am trying to help you." he said gentler. "You are not the Hokage. You are my advisor for when situations are presented that are similar to your own past. This is one of the ripples to your presences. We both know this. Now, what will you do ANBU Kitsune?"

Minashi lowered her gaze to the floor. She knew he was right. Not to mention, this rippling change may actually cost Gaara's mom's life. She couldn't risk that.

"Is Minato team lead?" she asked.

"His mission. His lead. You will be second in command due to your own experience and skill level." he replied evenly.

"How long is the mission tasked for?"

"Day and a half trip there. Same time back. Two-day time limit to get the targets out or assassinate them before they can be broken."

Minashi held firm brown eyes.

"I'm sorry Minashi." he whispered.

"No you aren't. Not completely at least." she sighed and rubbed her face. "I'd forgotten for a moment what it felt like to be a Hokage. I'm sorry for my bad reaction, it's just hitting a bit too close to home."

"This Gaara fellow?" Inojiro asked.

Minashi nodded and moved to lean against the window. "Gaara was the youngest of his Siblings. Temari and Kankuro. They were known as the Sand siblings." she then smiled at the irony. "Ironic really. Their Mother and Uncle were the originals. I wonder if they ever knew that their Family was famous before-" She paused and sighed. "Gaara was the Ichibi container. Born prematurely, killing his mother. She saved him by embedding her chakra into his sand so it would always protect him. Her strong love and Will protected Gaara so many times." She sighed and rubbed her tired eyes.

"Team Cheetah is leaving at first light Monday morning. Have your blood clone prepared to not expend a lot of chakra while you are away. You will need as much energy as possible for this mission." Hiruzen ordered.

"Of course." She sighed. "When are you expecting Orochimaru and Jiraiya back?"

"The latest, by sunset."

She frowned at him. "Why isn't he using a toad to send the report back?"

"Word from him is that the toads have been unresponsive. Only when he's persistent and marks that's it's life or death will they answer the summons."

Minashi frowned. "That's dangerous and strange Jiji."

Hiruzen raised a brow. "Jiraiya said they'd been that way ever since Minato summoned a toad with you present."

"Ah." she muttered and looked thoughtful. "Only my summons should have been the ones to follow me. I thought it was because they could smell the foxes on me. It's known that only Kushina has a contract."

"Or the GamaSannin had a vision about you." Hiruzen supplied.

"Plausible." Minashi grunted with a frown. "Looks like I'll be making a trip to the Toads to chat."

"Later. You have a team to get briefed by. You'll be able to feel when Jiraiya and Orochimaru return?"

"As soon as they enter my range." She confirmed.

"Meet with them as soon as they return. Team Cheetah will be briefed then and leave at first light. That will give the Sannin time to re-prepare themselves." He nodded.

"Alright." she sighed and stood. "Anything Jiji?"

"Good luck." he said firmly.

Minashi nodded. "I'll make sure everyone comes home." She promised.

"You can't promise-" Hiruzen started but she was gone in a flash of black. "That." he finished on a sigh. "She knows better." he grumbled.

"She does." Inojiro said. "Kakashi just recent told her that he'd always protect her and always be there for her. She was upset that he didn't understand that he couldn't say that. The chances of death are always high for a shinobi. She knows this."

"Yet, she makes the same promise to bring everyone home because she sees it as her responsibility that they do come home. They are precious to her now. She can't afford to lose anyone else." Hiruzen finished.

"Correct." Inojiro said looking at his Hokage with respect. Hiruzen rolled his eyes.

"We are friends Inojiro, I've heard many of your reports, done my own research on the subject of shinobi mental health, and have done enough profiling of my shinobis to understand how they think. It wasn't too hard a deduction."

Inojiro chuckled. "Apologies Hokage-sama, i meant no-" Hiruzen waved him off.

"Calm Inojiro. All you can do is prepare for her return. We don't know how this will affect her."

"Hai." he sighed and took the dismissal for what it was. "Good day Hokage-sama."

Minashi stood as she watched Jiraiya finish briefing Team Cheetah, their masks already in place. Hers rested on the side of her head as she stood beside Tsunade and Orochimaru while they finished checking their supply scrolls. Jiraiya finished up and walked back to their smaller group.

"They're ready?" She confirmed.

Jiraiya shrugged. "They're seasoned shinobi. This isn't their first S-ranked mission."

"But it's the first in a while that will end up being a joint mission. This is a politically tense mission. We fail and the balance of the Konoha-Suna alliance will never be as strong." Tsunade stated as she tightened her weapons pouch.

"Then let's make sure that we get the Sand Siblings back home, along with all our own people." Minashi stated firmly as Team Cheetah joined them. She faced them. "Cheetah, you will lead this mission. The Sannin will follow us until the set meeting point. There we will trade summons for when it's time for extraction or the mission starts going downhill. Cheetah, your orders." She said pulling her mask down.

"Move out." Minato said firmly. They disappeared into the trees. Their pace fast but steady. Silence reigned over the group as they traveled. Only stopping just before the boarders of Kusa and Konoha for the night.

Suppression tags were passed out in the morning by Minashi to make sure they stayed off all radars. They traveled quickly through Kusa and slipped past Iwa border patrols.

The group finally stopped in a cavern system that Orochimaru and Jiraiya had already staked out for the best exit strategy. They resided between Iwa's hidden village and Aisu Bay.

"We'll make camp here and head out tonight into the village between shift change." Minato instructed as they looked at the latest map Jiraiya's information provided of the village. "Jiraiya's informant said that the siblings are deep within ANBU holding cells. They are scheduled to be moved tomorrow night. We need to get into position to find out their routes. If we can find out that information then, we'll be able to make a plan and grab them."

Minato looked up at Kitsune with a firm look. "Kitsune, I trust your Deception skills will be able to get further into the village and get what we need?"

"Of course." She snorted. It wasn't the first time she's done such thing, but this time is wasn't against a madman. Just a middle-aged man with a complex about his height.

"Good. You, Usagi, and Sparrow will slip into the village." He handed each minus Kitsune a kunai. "Use these if you're made."

Kitsune handed out another Fuuin tag. "Place this over your ANBU marks." She ordered.

"What?" Minato frowned but took it.

"Do you want to start a third war early?" she asked. He frowned but put the tag over his mark like the others. "We cannot allow Iwa to learn that Konoha and Suna have teamed up."

Team Cheetah watched as their Konoha swirl like ANBU marks shimmered before changing to the horizontal marks similar to blowing wind.

Orochimaru then summoned wraps from another scroll. "These as well. Cover your heads. Use the lower wraps to cover everything else but your eyes. Masks will go on last as a secondary cover."

"We really are impersonating Suna ANBU." Bear grunted but did as the others and followed instructions.

Minashi didn't bother, she just closed her eyes and let her Henge blood transformation change over her head.

"Oi brat." Jiraiya frowned at her. "Won't they detect your henge?" he asked.

Minashi snorted at that absurdity. He rolled his eyes.

"Ah, that's right, will we need to keep a look out if you change faces?" Boar asked.

"I will not show you." Minashi said and checked her weapons one last time. "If I tell you, if you are caught, the other shinobi will see it the moment you recognize me."

"Alright, the sun is starting to go down. We need to trade summons then split up. Boar, Bear, and I will keep our distance, but we'll try to keep your exits clear until you three can find out when the Siblings will be moved."

"Hai." They chorused. Kitsune called up a small two tailed black fox named Shino.

"Kitsune-sama."

"You were briefed before we left. Jiraiya-sama will be our contact."

"Hai." He nodded and moved to sit on the taller man's shoulders. Jiraiya held a small burgundy toad in a hand.

"This is Gamasora. He's one of my smaller but still talented Toads. He can camouflage himself if needed."

"Hello Kitsune-san, Minato-sama." He bowed yet, Minashi saw his eyes still looking her over. "I'm glad to help."

"Thank you Gamasora." Minato smiled as the toad hopped onto his shoulder. The toad shimmered and then was gone from view.

"Let's move." Minato nodded and the group disappeared into the evening light.

She was beautiful.

He swallowed nervously as he straightened out his flack jacket and moved to see if he could get a date.

"H-" he cleared his throat when it came out rough. "Hello Miss."

Bright jade eyes looked up from their review of the flowers before her. Plump pink lips pulled into a soft smile.

"Hello Shinobi-san." A musical voice filled his ears. "Anything I can help you with?" she asked tilting her head cutely.

He swallowed thickly when his throat went dry at the beauty that was before him.

"I was actually wondering if there was anything I could help you with? I haven't seen you around the village before. I-I'm very sure I'd remember such a beauty as yourself." He said looked up to see a pink flush dust her cheeks. Green eyes sparkled as her hand came up and covered her mouth.

"Why aren't you the gentleman? I am looking for something, but I am having a hard time deciding. You see, I'm just here visiting my sister. She is soon going to be married. She moved away from home to marry a shinobi that saved her life." She said as her eyes saddened. "Mother was very sad to watch her leave, but that is just expected as children grow older, no?"

"I-I wouldn't know." He said as she began walking down more stalls of the village market, perusing the wares. "I am not married, nor have any children."

Her eyes swung to him as her pink hair shimmered in the midmorning sun. It was so unique, so beautiful. He wondered if this was what cherry blossoms looked like in spring. Iwa was too stone covered and too hot to keep such delicate trees alive and in bloom.

"A handsome shinobi like yourself? I couldn't image it." She shook her head, letting her hair shimmer more in the light. He was entranced by it. He couldn't help it when he reached up and tucked a lock behind her ear. He jerked back when he realized what he'd done.

"Apologies." He winced and took a step back. "Your hair is just so beautiful, I've never see that shade before."

That beautiful blush was back on her cheeks as she fingered her hair. "You think it's pretty?" She asked shyly.

"Beautiful." He murmured as he took a step back to her. She didn't shy away so he reached for the other side to tuck another lock away. "Stop me if I'm too forward, but would you allow me to escort you today? Maybe I could be of help finding what you need for your sister?"

Emerald orbs brightened in happiness. "Really? Oh, that would be so helpful." She smiled and he swallowed when she boldly grabbed his arm and practically hung off it as she steered him further into the market. "Thank you! There is just so much to look for."

"I am so sorry; I haven't even gotten your name Shinobi-san!" The Pinkett at his side suddenly exclaimed looking so embarrassed. "I haven't even offered you my own. Oh my, what kind of person am I." she worried nervously at those plump lips of hers.

He took her nervously twisting hands into his own and kissed one, before the other.

"We were just too busy in a good conversation. Personally, I was distracted by your exotic beauty. I am Takeshi Kuramochi."

She smiled kindly and held out a hand to him, her Kimono riding up to show off perfectly pale and slim wrists. So small, so delicate.

"Well hello Kuramochi-San, I am Sakura Miyoshi."

Takeshi smiled at her. "Your parents had a beautiful name for a beautiful woman. It fits you."

She blushed and covered her face with a sleeve again as the blush brightened.

"Please call me Takeshi." He continued, pulling her hand back into the crook of his arm.

"Takeshi-kun. Then please call me Sakura." She smiled up at him. Takeshi felt his stomach flip.

"Have you been able to see much of the sights while visiting Sakura-chan?" he smiled as he walked her towards the restaurant district.

"Sadly no, this is my first time visiting. Mother and I have been preparing for fall. We work cotton, herbs, and lotions. We have to begin winter prep soon, so it's been all about getting things together before winter set in." She sighed and looked down at her own hand. "I've always been a little jealous of Nee-san, she got to work with all the lotions and soaps as we grew up. Then Mother took it back over. So, I'm left with pulling cotton, weaving the scarves, cloaks, and gloves we sell. That doesn't include handling the herbs. Nee-san has the soft hands of the family."

"I think they are just fine." Takeshi smiled as he placed her hand into his and rubbed her callouses with his own. "I've never known soft hands in my life. I think if I did it would be too strange. But this is proof of your hard work." He frowned at them as he looked them over more. "Though you seem to do more than just needle work." He muttered rubbing the center of her palm.

Sakura clenched her hand. "Tou-san was a shinobi." She whispered. "We lost him when we were just children. Nee-san and I learned when we were little how to hold a Kunai in self-defense. She didn't practice as much as me. But we were attacked by bandits when I was a teen. I was barely able to protect myself, mother, and nee-san before a patrol heard the commotion and stepped in. I didn't want to feel that helpless again. So, I've been trying to practice. Asking passing shinobi for few pointers and practicing when I have time."

Takeshi kissed her palm and put it back in his arm. "while you are here, I'm sure we can find time to get you a few expert lessons. Passing shinobi are normally missing-nin or those that have abandoned their nations. They are out of practice and sometimes even lose their moral compass. You are lucky you haven't been hurt by them before."

Sakura's face paled. "L-like c-criminals? That's what Tou-san said Missing-nin were."

"Some, not all, but most." He confirmed. "So please be more careful."

Sakura's eyes watered but she nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder. "I will try to be more vigilant." She spoke softly. She then looked around. "Where are we?"

"It was close to midday. I though you might like to enjoy lunch with me?" He said smiling, but it was tight. He hoped he wasn't moving to fast for the civilian woman.

She blushed again as she smiled up at him. "That would be lovely. I didn't even realize how hungry I was getting." Takeshi smiled as he led her into one of his favorite places.

Takeshi looked up into the afternoon sky. He couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Sakura was amazing. She was kind, beautiful, had such a caring heart. He didn't know if he deserved such a woman, but he couldn't help it. He hoped he could convince her to have another date with him. He wanted to court her while she was here the next few days. Hope they could start writing letters when she left.

He frowned when he realized she was taking longer than expected. She was just going back for her purse that she'd left in the restaurant booth. Nerves bubbled into his stomach as he headed back for the restaurant. He knows she said she'd be fine, but his instincts were tingling.

He picked his pace up to a jog, but as he was passing the alley a block from the restaurant, he heard it.

"-Shi!" a muffled voice cut off and rustling. He followed his instincts and headed for the noise. Sprinting down the alley, he made another sharp turn and stopped dead when he found what he'd known others to experience, but never himself. Someone he was coming to care about was in the grips of a hooded and cloaked man. A Kunai was at Sakura's throat. A hand over her mouth. Another Man stood beside them with another Kunai pointed at her side while his other had her arms pinned at her side.

Teary emerald eyes looked at him in panic. The assailant before her yelped and yanked his hand away.

"Takeshi!" she cried out before it was cut off when the kunai pressed deeper into her throat.

"Oi!" Takeshi called out raising his hands cautiously. "Let the woman go. She's done nothing wrong." He called as he tried to walk close.

"No further!" the one that had her pinned snarled.

"I'll slit her throat." The second said even as the kunai broke skin. Sakura whimpered as she eyed Takeshi in fear.

"It's okay." He told her holding her gaze. "They won't hurt you. They want something."

"Well, well, he's a smart one." Assailant one taunted.

"Not smart enough to just let the woman die and save his own life." The other said emotionlessly as he pressed the Kunai more into Sakura's throat. She whimpered.

"Ok! Okay! Just back off the girl. Tell me what you want-" he began to reach towards his vest.

"What are you doing?" Assailant two snarled.

"Just getting my identification." He pulled out a card and flashed it to them. "Look, I'm the Commander of the Jounin Shinobi of this village. I'm sure we can work something out without having to bring all my men and women into this."

"Takeshi-" Sakura whimpered.

"It's okay Sakura-chan. Just close your eyes. Everything will be okay. I promise."

"You can't promise that." Assailant one chuckled.

"Then tell me what you want." Takeshi narrowed his eyes on the duo. "Just let the girl go." He lowered to a knee before the second one joined. "You want me, right?" he put his hands behind his head. "You've got me. Just let, the girl, go." He said even as he gripped the two kunai's hidden in the back of his upper vest.

The two shared a looked before Sakura was tossed to the side. Takeshi smirked and threw the kunai. He grunted when they were deflected but didn't hesitate to attack the assailants. The hooded cloaks were pissing him off. He couldn't get a read on their signatures either. How was he supposed to further assess the situation if he couldn't read his enemy?

"Run Sakura!" He ordered after throwing the smaller of the two assailants away. The larger one pulled a tanto. Takeshi pulled out his own Katana. "You wanna Dance? You picked the wrong skill. I'm the best Kenjutsu specialist."

"We know." His opponent grunted as the other joined at Takeshi's right. He eyed between them before defending against the smaller one's kunai's then spinning to block a down swing from the larger.

He continued to block their attacks. He couldn't risk any of his high level jutsus with being so close to the main district. But what really worried him was that no one had heard the commotion yet. Why didn't someone report the battle sounds yet? He kicked his two attackers again and took a deep breath.

"You've done something." He snarled. "I've been flaring my chakra since I saw Sakura in your grasps. We aren't being quiet with our battle sounds."

"You're good. But not good enough." A voice whispered in his ear. He barely turned around before darkness took away his vision. Only the memory of pink and emerald, staring at him emotionlessly, flashed before the nothing took over.

"That, was scarily good." Fumiko said as she finished tying Takeshi up. Koichi hummed as he finished stripping the Jounin commander of his clothes and weapons, leaving him in plain pants.

"What's scary is the fact that we didn't even know it was her until she signaled us in the alley, After he'd thrown her aside." He muttered.

"The seals she provided us before hand did their job." Minato nodded as he checked Takeshi's pulse. They were all in their Suna ANBU gear prepared for when their guest would wake up.

"but wasn't she the one that told us that he'd taken an interest in a civilian?" Toru commented from the wall he was leaning against near the door.

They all paused then looked at Itsuki, he was the experience interrogator and profiler of shinobi.

Itsuki just shrugged. "She said that it needed to be real as possible. It wouldn't have been if we knew it was her, we'd threatened with a kunai."

"True." Minato nodded.

"Is he ready?" Said woman asked as she walked into the room. They had made a base of a smaller Inn on the outer rim of the main village. "I've put the seals in place so it can get as loud as needed, or we can use as much chakra as needed, and we'll remain off radar."

All eyes moved to Minato as their team Captain. "I'd prefer to keep this as bloodless as possible." He frowned. "Killing only breeds more killing."

Itsuki sighed. "Then I'm out. My training only involved getting information through physical torture. Boss man is the mental manipulator of the department."

Minato's eyes looked to the woman still dressed as the target's companion.

"What about you?" he asked. Jade met blue.

"I can do it." She said and she turned back for the door.

"Then you are in lead from now on. When the information is collected, I'll take command back."

Minashi nodded. "Clear the room except one. Sparrow, stay and alert us when he wakes. Boar, I need you on perimeter to make sure there isn't someone that can see past my barriers."

"Hai." He disappeared in a shushin.

Fumiko, Itsuki, and Minato followed Minashi out to the main room of their suite.

"I want all but Toru in there. He will stay on patrol until eight hours have passed. Then switch with Koichi. We'll rotated from there. Hopefully it wont take that long." She muttered even as she stripped before them from her Kimono. Down to just her wrapped chest and thigh length workout shorts, she pulled on standard shinobi pants and a tight sleeveless shinobi top. Her weapons were strapped to both thighs, and two katanas at her lower back. Shinobi sandals were put on last before fingerless gloves slipped onto her hands.

A few black seals dotted her bared skin. Minato frowned at it.

"You aren't going in as a Suna shinobi?" he asked curiously.

Minashi glanced at him with jade eyes. He didn't like them.

"No. I want him to think that part of my background is true. That my family was attacked by bandits. But the 'truth' will be that the patrol that had 'saved us' hadn't been in time. That I'd actually lost my mother and sister. That I'm a freelance Kunoichi looking for revenge on the Iwa shinobi that were too late. Suna has paid for my services in aiding in getting back two of the shinobi Iwa is holding."

"You'll be able to trick and manipulate him to get the right information this way?" Itsuki asked doubtfully.

"No." She snorted. "I'm searching for empathy. I want him to try to empathize with me. The more comfortable I get him to be with me besides the 'Sakura' persona he's met, the more he will bend to tell me what I desire." She stretched before them before popping her neck. "We aren't here to kill anyone boys and girls. I don't give a rat's ass on the Kazekage's orders. We get the Sand Siblings out. We all get out of here alive. We do all that without taking life unnecessarily. If we have to run, then we aim to cripple, not kill."

Minato frowned at her. "That's not what you did for the ROOT agents."

"ROOT were conditioned to always follow Danzo's orders. Even if that meant taking the life of a child. They were no longer human or at least thirty percent of them were unredeemable. That blood is on my hands though. But that was an internal mission. This is a mission that is trying to not start a war in the meantime. Iwa will be expecting Suna shinobi's to be attempting a rescue mission. They are not aware that Suna has called in help to their new allies, Us. We will keep it that way."

Blue eyes held sharp green ones before nodding. "Alright. Thank you for explaining."

Minashi nodded and went to plaiting her hair down the side of her head to rest over her shoulder. She's made it her own original length.

A knock came from the 'bedroom'.

"He's awake." Minashi murmured. She looked back to the ANBU that were currently under her command. "Do not call me Kitsune. I am Mio."

They nodded before heading into the room. Minashi moved in last and shut the door behind herself with a soft click. She signaled to Koichi as she took a step forward the same order. She was Mio.

"Mio-san, the Prisoner is awake." Koichi said confirming to their faking unconsciousness prisoner that she was in the lead.

"Thank you, Sparrow." She nodded and grabbed the second chair of the room and moving it to sit in front of Takeshi. She spun the back around and straddled it as she crossed her arms over the back and just stared at Takeshi.

"I'm a sensor Takeshi-kun. I can feel your chakra spiking as you're testing the boundaries of the Chakra suppressing seals. Do not bother, I am a Seal Mistress. You will not be able to break through."

Hard grey eyes looked up between his tousled brown hair. Anger burned in his gaze. Minashi just set her chin on her forearm and held those angry eyes.

"Sorry for doing this to you Takeshi. You seem like one of the few descent men that the shinobi system produces, instead of barely sane killers."

His eyes narrowed just the slightest at her.

She raised a pink brow at him. "You going to talk or are we just going to have a staring contest?"

His eyes flashed briefly to the four others of the room before looking back to her and looking her up and down.

"You are not from Suna." He stated.

Minashi just smirked. "Never said I was."

"What do you want?" he growled.

Minashi hummed as she sat up and looked him over carefully. "You already know."

He didn't answer, just stared at her.

"What you don't know is my involvement." She smirked as his right eye twitched. "Why would a beautiful woman like me get mixed up in the Shinobi lifestyle?" She mused aloud and leaned onto one hand. "That's really not a mystery." She smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. "you see, I have this little thing against Iwa."

Takeshi stiffened. "So, I've had the best time training and preparing for when a time came when I could finally get back at some of the Iwa shinobi. Sure, you aren't the one of the ones I'm hunting, but I'm patient. For now, I'll have my fun with you."

"The patrol didn't get there in time." He muttered.

"Ah, you're as smart as you're acclaimed to be." She smiled cruelly. "Yes, one of your lovely border patrols were not on time." She yanked up her shirt and Takeshi's eyes dropped to see the thick lines running over her stomach and sides. He swallowed thickly as he looked back up to meet her gaze.

Hard green eyes held sorrow filled grey.

"They weren't in time." She said hollowly. "I watched the Bandits slit my mother's throat. I watched them rape and cut up my sister. By the time they got to me, I'd already been raped as well. They had just started cutting me up as well and going through our things for all our coin when your Shinobi showed up and killed them. Do you know what they did though?"

Takeshi swallowed but didn't look away from her angry eyes.

"They" She said gripping the chair tight "Walked. Away." She bit out. "Their medic said that they couldn't do anything for me, and it would be better if I died anyways and didn't live with the memories. They didn't even have any humanity in them to bury us. Or end my suffering. They just walked away."

"H-how did you-" he asked after swallowing.

"One of those Missing- Nin you so easily dismissed as dangerous. They had more compassion than a shinobi that is supposed to have some sort of Honor code. But I've learned that they don't. At least the missing-nins do in their own weird twisted way." She snarled and stood up. "you think on that. How your men destroyed my life. You know why I'm here. You know why I have these lovely Suna ANBU helping me keep you in place. I may have been paid for this job, but I will not watch another family be killed."

"Mio-san." Cheetah called softly.

Minashi stood up and shoved her chair away. "Your blood wouldn't be the first I've spilled Takeshi-kun." She snarled.

"Mio." Cheetah said firmer and gripped her bicep.

"Get off me." She snapped and stormed to the door. "Your mission is the information. I'm here for the money and saving a family. You're not my boss." She growled and slammed the door behind her.

Cheetah, Bear, and Usagi followed a moment later, leaving Koichi to watch the prisoner.

Minashi walked over to the side table and began making tea. She added the amount of sugar she wanted and sipped it slowly.

"Kitsune?" Fumiko asked coming up beside her with a worried look and her Suna face mask pulled off to the side.

"Hm?" she responded enjoying the warmth of the tea.

"Are you okay?" she whispered.

Minashi paused and looked at Fumiko's worried gaze again.

"yes" she said easily. "Why?" she continued and then looked back to see Minato and Itsuki mirrored Fumiko's worried look. Her brows shot up. "What?" she frowned.

"That anger was real. The emotions were real." Itsuki said.

"Even your scent was strong with pain and anger." Minato confirmed. "Even your Chakra spiked at the end before I got you out."

"Kitsune-chan, were you actually raped?" Fumiko asked with the kindest look she'd ever seen on the Yamanaka.

Minashi's eyes widened. "What? No!" she frowned and looked at them. "You believed all that?"

"You were acting?" Itsuki looked at her incredulously,

"Well duh. It needed to be as real as possible if I'm going to get him to sympathize with me and give me the information I want."

Itsuki and Minato shared a glance.

"I guess you are a master of deception." Minato said carefully. "But still the emotions, the scents, the chakra spike. Kuramochi would have felt it being so close to you, even with the suppressor seals blocking his own chakra use."

Minashi rolled her eyes at her teammates. "Look, I have plenty of memories with pain, anger, and hate. It wasn't that hard to call up an image in my mind that had all three and use those emotions to fuel that act."

"If you're sure." Fumiko conceded. "You were just so convincing."

"That's the point." Minashi chuckled and sat down. They joined her at the table still recovering from her too real act. "This is why I didn't tell you everything about how I was going to pull the information from Takeshi-san. This enables your own reactions to stay the same as they would in a real-life situation." She pointed to Minato. "You were a shinobi that Mio got to know on the journey here. He sympathized with her and was close to her. So, he started with trying to comfort Mio, but then he revealed that besides Mio leading he was next in command. He took over when necessary."

"You used me?" Minato frowned.

"I used your natural reaction to spin a story for Takeshi. He knows that I don't dislike all shinobi. Only Iwa. But I still hold Missing-nin in a better light. Yet, the Sand Siblings mean something to me. I haven't said much, but he's putting it together in there that I know them personally. That this is more than the money for me."

"You're good at this." Itsuki nodded.

Minashi sat back and rubbed her neck. "My Summons are the foxes. I did a lot of training in their home. I had to learn to think quick. I had to learn how to trick every type of person. I had to learn how to act and be like every type of person. They then would send me into a village with a task. I'd have a month to complete it. It shortened to a few weeks, two weeks, then only a few days to complete the same or similar task. As my skills grew, I then took actual missions that needed that type of skill and put my own to the test." She shrugged it off. "That's where I learned to be a Master of deception. I've used it off and on since then. The war made my skills even more important. Then I needed to hide. So, I erased my past and Hokage-sama made it possible to start anew."

If that wasn't the actual truth. Minashi snorted into her own mind.

"How long will you allow him to stew?" Itsuki asked.

Minashi shrugged. "Let's give it a few hours."

"That's taking away time we'll need to plan." Minato frowned.

"Fine. An Hour." Minashi shrugged.

Fumiko rolled her eyes and chuckled at Minashi. "You are an odd one Kitsune-san."

"But you find me entertaining, no?" she smirked. Fumiko returned it.

"Fumiko, go update Toru please." Minato ordered.

"Itsuki, go back up Koichi. Let him know loud enough that our other two teammates have left Cheetah and I alone. It will unsettle Takashi more to know that he doesn't know 'Sakura' but Cheetah knows 'Mio'."

Itsuki stood and pulled the cloth back over his mouth. "You ever have a free moment; please come to T&I we could use your skills sometimes. Or you could at least hold a training."

Minashi shook her head. "Sorry, training was left for Fox summoners only."

He grunted disappointed but left. Minashi glanced over to find Minato staring at her.

"What?" She muttered.

"The moment I think I have you figured out or am close to something that will explain more about who you are, you pull something like this."

"Is that a compliment or an insult?" she asked tilting her head confused.

"Neither. It's an observation. I know I'm missing one piece that would make this all make sense." He muttered as he looked between her jade eyes. He then frowned. "Is your eye color actually blue?"

Minashi chuckled as she stood up and cleaned up everyone's teacups. "In Konoha I will always use the eye color I was born with." She confirmed.

Minato grunted and took over drying. "That isn't helpful."

Minashi smirked. "It wasn't supposed to be."

They were silent for a while before Minashi sighed. "Minato, I want to tell you-"

"but you can't for my safety and the safety of Konoha and the precious people you have in it." He finished smiling sadly.

"Hai." She whispered.

"I don't like it. I don't like missing variables that could make or break a theory-"

"But you can't help it." She answered for him.

"We are getting into a routine." He shook his head smiling.

"At least we know where each other stand." She said. "Some teammates can never get past that first step. Honestly?" she asked. He looked at her waiting for her to continue. "I hope that I can be a true member of this team. Maybe even get a team outside of ANBU. Hokage-sama is right. I need friends. Being alone is painful. Yet I'm terrified to take that step forward and accept new friends."

"Taking that step forward in making new friends doesn't mean you forget the old ones." Minato chuckled gently. "It just means that you get to remember the good memories instead of reliving the bad. That and your heart is ready to heal and love again."

Minashi reached up and snagged his nose. He squawked surprised and tried to pull her hand off without losing his nose. Minashi just snickered before letting him go. He pouted at her cutely.

"You're adorable." She snickered. His pout deepened. "How is it that you can say something so wise with such a young face pretty boy?"

Minato wilted. "not you too." He whined and slumped to the floor. "I can't get my own girlfriend to stop calling me that."

"Well you are one. It's not fair how your lashes are longer than most women's." Minashi grunted. "That and you have like the smoothest skin I've ever seen. That is Not fair."

Minato looked up to find Kitsune sporting her own pout. He chuckled and ran a hand through his hair. "I guess I'm stuck with the nickname pretty boy then." He sighed.

"Would you rather Mina-chan or Natto-kun?" she smirked. Minato spluttered and followed her back to the sitting area.

"Please don't say those again!" he hissed. "if the others hear them, they won't let me live it down. Plus, my Imouto is already the first. That would be too weird. The latter is just mean."

Minashi chuckled and waved him off. "I'm teasing Minato. Relax."

Minato frowned at her. "You have been teasing me more, and even messed with the other team members."

"I like you guys and gal."

"So, you tease us more?" he asked.

"Well yes." Minashi smiled.

Minato deadpanned her.

"Enough, let's go over the map of the city again. I want to start making plans while we let Takeshi-san stew."

"You call him by his first name." Minato frowned. "Why?"

Minashi didn't look up from the map she was already laying out. "It reminds me that he's human." She answered quietly. Minato left it at that and went to work.

They spent the next hour pointing out possible ambush areas, possible buildings that their prior scouting had hinted to Prisoner holdings, and escape routes. Minashi also said that she could go around and lay out sealing traps that their teammates could lure their pursuers in if needed. They could be on a slight delay so that, while their teammate's passing them were trigger activation, the delayed timer would set off when the pursuers were passing them. All non-lethal again. No need to start a war.

Itsuki and Fumiko joined a few minutes into the planning and input their own ideas. At the hour mark, Minashi moved to the door with the other three once again.

Koichi gave her a worried glance behind his mask, but she ignored him.

Her target were the grey eyes watching her carefully. Minashi purposely grabbed the chair again and sat in it correct. She crossed a knee over and placed her relaxed hands on her knee and just stared at Takeshi.

"I'm sorry my men abandoned you." He whispered after a few minutes of staring. "Give me a description of them and I can have them punished. Civilian or not, they should have at least tried-"

"They are not why I'm here. I'll deal with them on my own terms. I'm here for my target." She waved to the Suna shinobi around her. "Their targets."

Takeshi frowned at her. "You only are targeting one of them?" he frowned.

Minashi shrugged and brushed off a non-existent piece of lint. "They are a package deal. Only one means more to me than the other, but they'd kill me if I didn't make sure they both got out."

"I just can't let you take valuable prisoners. They were found as Spies-"

"And I'm sure Iwa has their own spies in Suna. I don't care." She narrowed her eyes. "You will tell me when they will be moved, where they will be moving from and where they are being moved to. Tell me this and you can walk away from this alive." Minashi stated coldly.

Takeshi looked at Mio before glancing over to the cat masked one. He'd done something to get her back under control. He didn't like it. He wished that Sakura had been real. That her smiles had been real. Instead, they had hidden the pain caused by his men.

"Takeshi." Mio said. He looked back into her emerald eyes and watched as they softened. "Please. I don't want to hurt you. You are a good man. I know that. I'm not blinded that much by my anger to not see that you are not to blame for my pain. All I am trying to do is prevent someone dear to me from experiencing the same sense of loss and helplessness that I did."

"I can't Sakur- Mio." He corrected.

Minashi let her eyes close as a sad smile took her lips. "I took the Name Mio because it was my sister's. I did give you my actual name. It was your honesty and how earnest you were that made me do that."

"Sakura-chan, I can't. I would be betraying my Nation, my Tsuchikage, my shinobi."

Minashi held his sincere gaze as she tried to read him deeper. "Otherwise you would to try to make it right, wouldn't you?" she whispered.

Takeshi looked away. Minashi nodded and stood up. "Thank you Kuramochi-san, you are a fine shinobi. I hope one day my children are as kind, loyal, and hold the same honor that you possess."

Minashi pulled back and let her fist fly forward. Takeshi closed his eyes, and didn't see when instead of a fist, Minashi instead slapped a seal on his forehead. Takeshi slumped into his seat and Minashi let out a long sigh.

"Fumiko." She called.

"Hai?"

"Take me with you when you go into his mind. I'll be able to supply you with extra juice and instruct you with a different jutsu, so we can keep our presence in his mind a secret. Suna doesn't have any Mind Specialized Shinobi."

"Hai." She straightedge before taking Minashi's seat. Minashi stood and let Fumiko pull her into Takeshi's mind.

Twenty minutes later Fumiko gasped as she ended the jutsu. Minato and Itsuki were there to help her and catch Minashi who grunted and staggered while holding her own head.

"Kami damn it." She hissed. "I still hate that." She hissed. "Even with Inojiro's sessions it never gets old."

Fumiko groaned. "Sorry, Inojiro-sama is more experience than me. He probably made it smoother. I still have more to learn in our clan jutsus."

Minashi waved her off. "Don't worry about it."

"Is it done?" Minato asked.

"Hai. We have the information." She sighed and cracked her neck. "Under my instruction Fumiko kept our presence in his mind to non-existent. He'll remember that he was taken by Suna shinobi and the Rouge Sakura. He'll know what we came for, but my seal will burn up when we are safely out of Iwa walls. Any later and his absence will be noticed. It was his day off anyways. It's why I targeted him."

"Alright, let's get to revising the plans with the new information." Minato ordered.

Takeshi groaned. His head was killing him. Rolling his head up he frowned when he found Sakura sitting before him. Why was she still here? He glanced around and noticed that her Suna escorts were gone.

"Why?" he whispered.

"Why what?" Sakura asked.

"Why are you still here?" He asked and then realized that he could feel his chakra again. That he could feel chakra on his sensory radar. He wasn't the best sensor, but he could feel that there wasn't a block anymore.

"The Suna Shinobi do not know I stayed back." She said evenly. Takeshi frowned at her.

"Why are you still here?" he asked again. "If they left, then they improvised when I didn't provide you the information you desired on the Sand Siblings." He glanced past the open door behind her to see it was dark out. "They have already been moved by now. There will also be a search for me soon. You should go."

"Do you know what the cycle of hatred is?" Sakura asked tilting her head at him.

Takeshi frowned at the Pinkett. Even as an enemy he still found her beautiful. "No." he grunted and lifted his arms to see he'd also bee released of his ties. He frowned at himself before looking at her. "Why are you here if I'm free?"

"Vengeance is the product of hate and so death follows. But in death there is only more death. This will give rise to more pains. In this cursed world we live in, it is a cycle of hatred that will not cease."

Takeshi stared at the woman before him. For some reason he felt that this wasn't the same one he'd dealt with before.

"What are you getting at?" He asked.

"There was no Sakura. There was no Mio." She said. "There was no border patrol that left them and their mother to die."

Takeshi glared. "You played me." He snarled.

"I only gave you a taste of what could happen. Maybe not me, but it is still possible that the hateful actions of others will spill blood. Those victims will then seek out vengeance and spill more blood. Then family or friends of those victims will seek revenge. On and on it continues. Blood, vengeance, blood, revenge."

Takeshi lost the snarl and stared at serious emerald eyes.

"That is the Cycle of hatred." She said softly. "My mission was to collect the Sand Siblings. I have done that. My orders to my team? We will not kill. If attacked, aim to disable, but not kill. Blood spilled will only shed more blood later on. This is why you are still alive. One cannot stop the cycle of hatred until someone first start taking the steps away from it."

"How does this concern me?" he frowned.

"Hatred from the Second shinobi war is going to spark a Third. Nothing can stop that. But actions in the Third could stop a fourth from brewing."

"War is war. Blood will always be shed." He frowned.

"Yes, but that does not mean that someone has to die from their wound." She raised a brow at him. "I could have killed you here, today. Weakened Iwa of one of their best Jounin commanders. Left them scrambling for a replacement. Left your men and women riddled with grief."

Takeshi stared into eyes that he knew. Eyes that had seen loss, eyes of a veteran shinobi.

"I lost the man I love to another Man that destroyed our village. All because he wanted us to know true pain. If I didn't have my twin brother, I would have fell into that cycle of hatred. He helped me remember what our father taught us. That the cycle of hatred can be ended. One just has to be willing to take that first step. Together we forgave the man that destroyed our village. Our loved ones. Our willingness to forgive a man that had caused us so much pain created a miracle. A one-time miracle. We got our loved ones back. I got my lover back. Our village still lost lives that were too injured, but it wasn't as devastating of a loss. Yet they took after us. They forgave the man that had hurt them. Understanding after we told his story, why he acted against us. We had hurt him first."

Takeshi looked on shocked before frowning. "How do I know you aren't playing me again with another sob story?" he snarled.

Minashi raised a brow before lifting a hand to him with palm up. "I can show you."

"What?" he frowned.

"Take my hand Takeshi." Takeshi eyed her hand before looking into her emerald eyes. He watched as they slowly bled a cerulean blue. "Take my hand Takeshi." She whispered again.

Takeshi took her hand and his world changed.

Takeshi held the cup of tea the mysterious shinobi had made for him.

"Those were your memories?" he whispered.

"Yes and no. I had to make sure you wouldn't see certain things, but yes. That was the event that destroyed my village. And trust me, blinding you to certain things, ended up being a lot. Manipulating one's own memories is not easy without permanently distorting them."

"Then why risk it?" he asked.

"Because a small pebble makes ripples." She smiled kindly.

He frowned at her. "So, you are tossing pebbles to encourage change?"

She smirked at him. "Hai. You are smart. That I was being honest about as Sakura."

Takeshi paused when he remembered. "There was a pink haired girl in your memories." He whispered.

Minashi nodded. "Her name was Sakura. She was my best friend. One of the best medics of our village. She is dead now, but she was like a sister to me."

"She was very beautiful." He mumbled. "You are very beautiful." He said eyeing her blue eyes, black hair, and black facial markings. "It's a shame you are still mourning your lover."

Minashi chuckled sadly. "Well, it's about time I let you go."

Takeshi sighed and stood with her. "You won't tell me which village you actually work for?"

"How do you know it's not Suna?" She raised a brow.

Takeshi raised a brow before smirking. "Suna is not know for their sealing skills."

Minashi blinked at him even as he chuckled louder. She rolled his eyes at him.

"I'm also pretty sure that wasn't how Uzushio went down." He said softly.

"I'm not Uzumaki." She grunted. "Why does everyone keep assuming that?" she huffed.

Takeshi shook his head at her. "You are strange." He held out his hand in the future. "I hope one day we can meet again on even grounds. If you are correct and a Third war is on the horizon, I will try to not add to the Cycle of Hatred."

"That is all I ask." She whispered and took his hand. Takeshi brought it to his lips and kissed it again. Minashi rolled her eyes and Takeshi sighed disappointed.

"Too bad." He muttered but let her hand go.

Minashi turned to go before pausing at the door. She glanced back to see Takeshi checking the weapons she'd returned to him.

"Takeshi?" she called as she walked back pulling something from her hip pouch. He glanced up and looked at the Fuuin paper between them. "If you are ever in a life or death situation and have no way out, push chakra into this. This is my apology for my actions though we both know it's just part of the job."

Takeshi frowned down at it. "What is it?"

Minashi smiled softly. "It will summon me."

"Like animal summons?"

"Not quite." She chuckled. He raised a brow at her. "It's a space-Time jutsu tag. I've made it specifically for you. I cannot feel it until it's been activated, unlike my other tags that I place and activate at the same time. Those I can feel. Even from here. This I cannot. Not until it's been activated. It is designed so that only you can activate it."

"What if I used it to capture you?" he challenged.

Minashi just raised a brow back. "You won't."

"You can't know that." He frowned.

Minashi just smirked. "Can't I?"

He stared at her.

"Ja ne Takeshi-kun." She saluted before suddenly popping into smoke. Takeshi blinked before it clicked. He'd been talking to her clone. A clone she had left behind unknowingly to her team. He looked down at that tag once more before muttering a curse and storing it away in his inner vest pocket. He didn't understand why he believed that he could trust her to be there if he did call her. How did she know that he really wouldn't use it against her?

"Strange Kunoichi." He muttered and left to see what chaos her team had caused in his village.