Chapter Twenty-Two: The Search Begins

Izakura was exhausted, her chakra nearly nonexistent and down two summoning animals. The only one's that she'd been able to fully release were Masumi and Hikari. Now, at climax of battle they had been separated, her team was knocked out, and she was barely holding on. Even as the prodigy she was, Izakura knew she was still just a child and therefore had only so much chakra to spare.

"Looks like you're running on empty little girl." The masked man taunted. Sighing Izakura straightened and removed the chakra from her eyes. Yes, she'd be at a disadvantage, but the chakra she retained would serve her in her final attack.

"Bring it on old man." she hissed while forcing her body to stand and slipping into a stance.

Meanwhile Sakura and Itachi had just appeared in a clearing outside of Akatsuki base and instantly started dodging attacks. Itachi had sensed his old coworkers, the other darker members of Akatsuki right before they arrived and so had quickly informed Sakura and her team of all their locations. While the ring prevented him from revealing their weaknesses, it did not stop him from pointing out their locations. In fact, the ring helped them track one another, so long as the one wearing it was alive it would anyone. Therefore, within minutes Sakura was head to head with a zombie like man, one she faintly remembers reading about in her daughters notes—with something about multiple hearts. Shikamaru took on a larger man with bright green eyes, and Sai was jumping to aid the Mist rogue.

"You wench, I'll kill you and offer your blood to…"

"Hidan." Itachi growled, taking a step forward but Sakura stopped him. She would take him and show him what her daughter hadn't shown. The darkness of a kunoichi medic.

"Find her…Hikari found her team, they're all injured. Save my daughter Uchiha, or else I'll take your life." The manner in which she spoke reminded Itachi of what his grandmother had sounded like. She'd been a true leader, and one of the most frightening matriarchs the clan had ever known. Yes, he'd chosen wisely; perhaps he'd spend the night with her again—even make her his bride. First thing was first though, they needed to save their daughter.

"Hn." And with that Itachi left.

"So, looks like you're truly the Uchiha loving bitch the rumors say. Pathetic, you…" Hidan's tried to insult Sakura, but before he could finish his ranting he found himself on the ground and in a crater. The earth served as the table and the seals Hikari had taught her manipulated and used to pin rather than aid.

"You've underestimated my daughter and I rogue, for the insult allow me to show you what she couldn't." Sakura said, allowing her inner—and darker—self full reign.

The moment it had free reign, said personality tightened the chains holding the rogue down, it withdrew chakra restraining rope from her pouch and used it to bind the chakra flowing from all of his hearts. At first the rogue looked over her, smiled and laughed while Sakura worked on tying the rope into place. However, when she'd gotten the ropes finished she had ever so lightly places a hand on his chest. That was when he felt her chakra, when he remembered who had taught her the specialization she'd chosen to pursue.

She was a medic, a highly skilled medic, and a woman who would one day surpass the legendary slug princess herself. Which was why he couldn't fight her, couldn't move, and why her chakra wasn't effected by his unique abilities. As a medic she had been trained how to turn her chakra into one of healing and warmth; one that would feel soothing to those who were experiencing a healing session.

"Hey, how about you let me go and in return I'll take you to that kid of yours. I'll even…"

"Tell me who told you to turn on her? Which one of you scum…."

"I can't, I…"

"Fine, then this is your funeral." Sakura hissed while changing the warm tone of her medical chakra to one of ice and death.

At first Hidan tolerated the foreign feeling, he was able to manage the pain. However the longer it went on, the more he felt and the more painful it grew. Within a couple of minutes the pain was at a point where even he was uncomfortable, and within seconds after that Hidan could't tolerate it anymore. So he screamed, he screamed and begged for the medic to stop; but she didn't. Sakura wouldn't stop until he was either dead, she was bored, and/or until he told her where he daughter was and who it was that had ordered her death.

Those who had been moving and hiding near her heard Hidan scream, they could feel the pain in his voice; and so they fled. In all their time in Akatsuki never had anyone heard Hidan in so much pain, never had they detected true pain and so for the kunoichi to do so without effort showed the difference in strength and class. They themselves weren't a match for the medic's father, they'd known this. However they were the foot soldiers to the Akatsuki, they followed what they were told by their members; and given that the leader was no where to be found they weren't left with many options. In this situation though, they chose the one that ended with keeping their lives…they ran.

Not long after Sakura had started, about ten or so minutes in, Hidan stopped screaming. All he could manage were weak moans and sobs. So enthralled by her work that it wasn't until Hikari appeared before her and growled that she snapped out of her trance like state.

"Hyuuga-san and his team are safe. They're in Izakura-sama's room and protected."

"Have you heard from Masumi?"

"Iie, she is not at Izakura-sama's side. An explosion…" Hikari tried to explain but Sakura was already running; but not before stabbing the last of the rogues hearts. He had died a slow and painful death, the minions of the Akatsuki had witnessed it and they as such had left her to her vices.

All the while Itachi ran he did so in silence. His body moved on instinct, dodging, killing, and pausing only when absolutely needed. Then, when he was just reaching the organizations shared living quarters, the Uchiha heir froze; and with him the rogue who'd been attacking as well.

In the air they could all hear the screams of one of the most deadly members in all of Akatsuki. A man who seemed immortal, who's body was made of body parts not his own—who was seen as immortal. Above all else, a man who'd never complained about an injury in his life. In fact, he was used to killing his enemies by trapping them in his seal and then creatively inflicting wounds on himself only to watch as they appeared on his enemies. Hidan was also the one member in all of Akatsuki who could take torture from the legendary Ibiki and laugh the entire time.

Realizing that what he heard could be his fate as well, Itachi turned and slipped into the building. He needed to find Izakura, to make sure that she was safe and alive. Of course said motivations wasn't just because of the threat on his life. Though he'd never given it much thought, and had long since given up on the idea of starting a family of his own. After all, rogue rarely escaped their profession with their lives much less were able to have a family of their own.

"It seems the medic is as talented as the rumors stated." Konan noted by way of greeting.

Her body was wrapped in paper cranes, a couple were in her hands shipped like kunai, and several hundred more surrounded their leader as a means to protect him. Though the paper seemed to be a weak material, Itachi knew first hand that Konan's ability made anything she chose to apply it to, lethal.

"Hn. Where is Izakura?"

"With Tobi, her team is in her room. We've left Kisame to protect them while she deals with the traitor."

"Will you fight?"

"No, we are on our way to the summit. We've orders from the hokage to report." Konan said with a matter of fact tone of voice. Mostly because she was still somewhat amazed at the fact that not only had she managed to keep her end of the deal, but that the new—and extremely young—hokage of Konoha had sided with the child and managed to gather all of the village leaders for a meeting.

Upon listening to their response, Itachi's eyes were blazing red and his anger was evident on his face. From the moment he'd met his daughter—had faced her in battle—Itachi had known she was special. Special and powerful; and free of the clan that had broken him. She had been able to choose her path, choose when to start her training, and how fast she'd become a genin…a killer.

However, despite the clan's death, she was still being used as a tool. A means to grant other's wishes while sacrificing her youth and her innocence. People who cared only about the end result and not about the manner in which they end goal was met were gathering, taking advantage of her and her skill set. Given that she'd chosen the path herself, as a shinobi, Itachi had nothing but the upmost respect for his daughter.

On the other hand, he was her father. Itachi felt responsible for the child, felt the need to protect her from the risks she'd accepted when she signed on to their shared profession. Despite training she was still a child, hadn't experience much in life. What was more was that to this day, Itachi had not asked if she'd made her first kill; therefore she was still innocent—at least to a certain extent she was.

"You will abandon us; leave us to clean the house you built?"

Konan didn't miss the tone in which the Uchiha spoke in. She recognized the anger in his voice, and fought not to reveal a smile she wanted to express. After all, in all their years together she had never seen him express emotion, had never seen the man behind the shinobi mask. Now, finally, the day had come in which the mighty Uchiha heir was void of any masks. He was revealing what he really felt and he was proving to be capable of caring for others. Konan was even more amused by the fact that all it had taken was for him to have a child of his own. A thought she had entertained once but had dismissed rather quickly. Who knew though, not with the new heir to the Uchiha line, she may have her chance yet.

"The kunoichi chose her path and assured us that she would make the meeting prior to its end. She has her job to do, and she is doing it."

"Furthermore, she is fulfilling her duties as the liaison for Akatsuki." Konan and Pein said while effortlessly dodging and killing the rogue who'd charged at them.

"My orders?"

"Clean up and kill Tobi." Were Pein's last words before Konan picked them both up and broke through the ceiling.

Nodding Itachi decided that the best thing he could do for his daughter and her mother was to fight. Therefore as soon as the order were given he turned and started to fight to get to where his daughter fought. A child, a young girl who far surpassed his child self was his daughter; and she was also about to become the savior of all of the shinobi world. Itachi would see to it that she was successful with her mission.

The first place Itachi went to was his daughters room. At which point he found Kisame and the Izakura's genin team. Majority were injured but alive and stable.

"Uchiha, you missed the start of the show. Were you healing or…"

"Where is she Kisame?" Itachi demanded, in no mood to banter with his partner.

"She was supposed to meet us after meting with Pein-sama but never showed. Then all hell broke loose. We killed most of the traitors but there are some stragglers."

"Hyuuga-san?"

"We're injured but able to fight." He assured the Uchiha, all the while his eyes roaming the area.

"Hn, then we…"

"She's 10 miles out, to the east fighting another Akatsuki." Neji suddenly spoke up. Voice strained as he tried to focus, to zoom in and get more specifics. Given the battle however, his chakra wasn't as expendable and so he pulled back.

"With whom?"

"I don't know him, but he is smaller in statue."

"We should go to her!" Hana screamed, jumping to her feet only to flinch. She'd sprained her ankle, but would not be left out of the fight.

"Are you able?"

"Hai." She and Daiske swore intently. Both determined to be there for their teammate no matter the cost. Even Neji had to agree with them; thus causing Kisame to laugh.

"I'll hang back, finish cleaning up house. You take the Konoha-nin and get that girl of ours out of trouble." were Kisame's last words before running off. The stragglers were in the woods, all running from the medic who had dealt with Hidan. Oh Kisame had heard his screams, and even he had to admit; he now feared the medic.

Meanwhile, Itachi quickly numbed the kunoichi's ankle before turning and leading the way.

POV Change

Even Masumi had to admit, their foe was on a level they had not been anticipating. Surely a grand mistake by all in Akatsuki had been made when they had seen the man as nothing more than a simple, overly playful child. Then again, who would have thought otherwise given the manner in which he spoke.

Snarling, Masumi charged in, forced the man to redirect his attack away from Izakura before he had been too late. Her speed was decreasing, and even with the lack of her sharingan she was using too much chakra too fast. Hikari was on her way, as was Haruno-san but they had been so far when Masumi had sensed them that she'd known there was time that needed to be bought. The question was, could they buy the time without having to pay a grand price.

"A child like you doesn't deserve the power you have. You are unworthy for being unwilling to do what needs to be done." The evil Uchiha had growled, sending a water dragon jutsu straight for Izakura.

Then, from out of no where lightning engulfed the field and shadows created a shield around Izakura. Confused, the young Uchiha heir looked around and was surprised to find her mothers team. Though Sakura was not with her, they were both determined to act accordingly.

"Kakashi-sensei, when…"

"Hey kid, we will…"

"And another Konoha murder appears. Perfect timing, now I don't need to track you down when I'm done destroying Konoha." Tobi sneered.

Kakashi froze. He know the voice, he knew the man who was standing before him and attacking one of his kin. However, the man should have been dead; and the last they had seen one another had been friend not foe.

"Obito…how?"

Meanwhile Shikamaru was offering katana to Izakura and working on some sort of strategy. Knowing now that weapons phased through the man, he needed to see it in action to be able to spot some sort of weakness. Which probably would have been easier to do had they had Sakura with them. However, Hidan was a more pressing matter, and a creature that absolutely needed to be dealt with.

"All together." Masumi growled, refusing to allow anyone to loose focus.

And with that the trio charged forward. Kakashi rushing toward his once fallen comrade, Shikamaru trying to find a shadow to take hold of the man; and Izakura, who had reignited her sharigan eyes in hopes of ending things once and for all.