Artes animi.

Disclaimer :I don't own Naruto.

Chapter 25.


"So we've taken another village?" she asked, her voice was soft with traces of triumph.

Ao nodded, a small smile playing on his face "Indeed, and with that we have taken the last outside source of provision Yagura has" he said his single visible eye shining.

"We're closing on him, he only has what he stored beforehand.. I wonder if we should attack him directly or simply wait until the hunger will cause a mutiny in his ranks" Crane said pointing at the map on the table "There are dangers to both actions, we might defeat them quicker if we'll continue the direct assaults, however since we backed them into a corner they might strike harder than ever before, not to mention they still have a few fortifications outside of the village" she tapped her mask thoughtfully.

"On the other hand if we'll wait the enemy might use the opportunity to try and get us slowly.. On the other hand this might be a chance to strike at them easier".

Mei nodded "While true, I am afraid we can't just wait them out.. Our force's nerves are already stretched thin.. This war isn't like a war against an outside force, we are fighting our own brothers and sisters.. We must finish this as fast as possible" her voice was now sturdy as she moved back into her mizukage mode.

"I see" Crane nodded "This is exactly why you are the most suited to be the Mizukage, one needs more than tactical brilliance to lead a village" she said smiling under her mask.

"Then if that is decided let us move to the more practical parts of the planning" Ao said his eye back on the map.

They were about to start discussing it when a knock on the door stopped them, causing them to look up.

"Enter" the Mizukage called.

The door opened and a masked shinobi entered saluting.

"Lady Mizukage" his voice was cold and emotionless "I am sorry for the interruption, however I have a report for the commander " he said.

This caught the woman's attention who nodded at him.

"You can report here Sparrow" the hunter commander said.

The man nodded "We've finished our mission successfully, we've got our hands on their shipment of medicine.. We've encountered a strong resistance, their team was made entirely of jonins" he stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath.

"Thankfully we didn't loose anyone, but we do have three injured.." his voice turned hard "due to the new addition we were given".

Under her mask Crane's eyes widened, team Sparrow was a special task team and one of the best they had.. For them to be injured...

Mei simply sighed "What did Wolf do?" she asked, biting her lip.

"It's not what he did, although his distrust of his entire team was quite problematic.. No the problem is his lack of skills" his voice was icy cold as he turned his head to the hunter commander.

"Not to say he is weak or anything, the fact that he survived this mission is enough evidence of him being talented.. However he is nowhere near the level where he could fight a team of jonins. He has a lot where to grow to.. I request his immediate release from the team" the hunter finished.

Crane was about to say something when the Mizukage spoke first.

"Very well Sparrow, we'll release him from your team.. How are the two other injured?" she asked.

"Not to severely, they will recover with some rest.. The new addition however might have lost an eye.. We'll have to wait for the medic's conclusions".

She nodded "You did well, please go rest.."

The man bowed his head "Thank you milady" he said before leaving the room.

When the door closed Crane turned to the mizukage who looked like she swallowed something bitter.

"Ma'am?"

Mei sighed "Let's finish our business here.. I'll go see how he is doing" she said before turning her attention back to the map in front of her.


He was laying in a hospital bed, the left side of his face covered by bandages.

The pain was dull, and the medics told him his eye would recover in time, which was good.. But even so he couldn't help but feel frustration welling up in him.

He was weak.

That was something that he knew, always known but the confirmation he got on the last mission was like a punch to his stomach.

"I bet Itachi wouldn't have the same troubles" he thought, gritting his teeth.

The name of his freind - a freind the name of who he didn't think for the last eleven months he was in this foreign land - caused him to think of Konoha, his home.

Just another month and he was to return back to Konoha, which meant that he should start planning his escape from here.

Sighing in frustration his mind returned to his friend and his abilities.

Itachi was specialized in genjutsu which was something that he personally never truly excelled in, but instead he had his clan's techniques.

However what frustrated him was his taijutsu ability.. While he had the advantage of being able to read his opponents thoughts, it was still not enough.. Unfortunately he didn't feel safe training this here with Ao and his Byakugan walking around.

From the corner of his eye he noticed one of the medics walking through, causing him to take a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

Clenching his hands he felt the urge to yell in frustration as fear and panic rose in his body.

And all of this came with the face of the woman who was responsible for this.

"Ikumi" he hissed thinking about her, the woman who he thought of as a freind at least to Ichirou Sanada.. The woman who betrayed him.

Calming himself down he shook his head, he felt his nerves tense for the last six months ever since that incident.

He knew what was happening to him, he was a Yamanaka after all.. He was getting paranoid.

The betrayal caused him to distrust everyone, seeing anyone as a potential backstabber and him being on a foreign soil didn't help matters much.

He was just glad that in a month he will be on his way back home.. Hopefully the return home will ease his newfound psychological problem.

The door cricked and the firey hair of the leader flashed in before the woman herself walked into the room.

"Ichirou" her voice was soft "What did the doctor's say?".

"I'll be fine ma'am" he said the visible side of his face turning into a smile "Two weeks of recovery".

His voice was light, but his clenched hand told the mizukage all she needed to know about how he was actually feeling underneath.

"I see" she said, not knowing what else she could do or say.

The boy lowered his eyes "I guess the captain has decided on my release?" he asked.

The woman nodded "I am afraid so, Ichirou... While I hate to kick you when you are down, the truth is that sparrow is under the impression that you are not ready yet.. You fought well under the mask in the last months.. But I am afraid it was too early sending you to the front like that.. I.. Came to the conclusion that you should return the mask" she said it like it was a suggestion but they both knew it wasn't.

Sakurai nodded, anger at his own weakness rising in his body.. How was he to defend Konoha? To defend his family when he was that weak?

A decision formed in his mind, when he will return to Konoha he will find someone to help him grow.

"Rest well Ichirou.. As for your future career we will talk about it when you will be released from the hospital" the leader said turning to walk out.

The Yamanaka said nothing, his mind running a mile an hour.. It was time.. He had to weeks to formulate his escape plan.

A small smile spread across his face, it was finally time.


Mei walked out of the room, Crane joining her outside.

"Are you sure Ma'am?" the masked kunoichi asked "If he is to grow, I believe the best place for him is to stay in the forces".

Mei nodded "I know, but seeing him there injured and nearly crippled and with a severe psychological condition.. It made all my uneasiness from back when he joined to resurface... He is twelve years old for God's sake! He did more than enough" she said decisively.

Crane looked at her freind and leader "And will you stop him from going on any mission?"

Mei shook her head "No, while I would like to this won't do him or us any good.. No we will send him on missions don't worry".

Crane nodded smiling under her mask.


End of chapter 25.

A boring and short chapter I know, however it appears that Sakurai has suffered some serious mental damage...

Well I hope his return to Konoha next chapter will help him somehow.. Or maybe not who knows.