Chapter 36:

The Leaf ninja sent to kill Itachi and Kisame, have gathered at the roof of the tall building, and are having a meeting, led by Kakashi, as he is the most experienced member of the group.

"Ok, as we all know, our mission if to find and kill Itachi Uchiha and Kisame Hoshigaki," Kakashi spoke. "This will not be an easy mission because they are both S-Rank ninja and are very powerful, but we have to do whatever it takes to take them out.

"The Akatsuki and their allies are gunning after the Leaf, ever since we took down Hidan and Kakuzu. On top of that, there is an info that the Akatsuki has already captured 7 out of 9 Biju, with the only remaining being the eight-tails, and the nine-tails. The power of that alliance backed by 7 Biju is astronomical, and we can't allow them to increase their power even more, which means that we have to dismantle the Akatsuki as soon as possible. Hidan and Kakuzu, along with Sasori and Deidara have already been taken out, Itachi and Kisame are next and if we are to dispose of them, we will be leaving the Akatsuki with less than half of their members, which would severely cut their power, and with some luck, would make the other villages in that alliance think about abandoning it, weakening them even more.

"This all means that this mission is of the greatest importance, which also means that if we fail… that would be the end of all of us, as Danzo would have us all killed if by some miracle we survive Itachi and Kisame."

Everyone was looking at Kakashi with serious expression on their faces, as they all knew that Kakashi is right… well all except Sasuke. He simply believed that he is far too powerful and important to just be killed-off by some old man.

Sasuke also has other plans, plans which will make sure that he won't find himself at Danzo's mercy.

He knows that if he defeats Itachi, he could transplant his eyes and gains EMS. Sasuke has known this for a while now, and is one of the reasons he wishes to kill Itachi, and not just because he wants revenge. He also wants unrivaled power, and he knows he will only get that once he kills Itachi and gets EMS. Once that happens, he will be invincible, and will be able to kill Danzo and take over the Leaf Village, making himself the Hokage, and rule however he sees fit. Then, he would go after the Fire Daimyo, and kill him and his family, before he makes himself the leader of the whole Fire Country. After that, the rest of the EN would be for the taking, especially since its war time, and he doesn't even have to start a war to get what he wants.

Sasuke has it all planed out. All he needs is power, and to get it, he first needs to kill Itachi, and now he has finally been given a chance to do it.

Sasuke smirked thinking that Danzo has no idea what he has done by sending him after Itachi and giving him a chance to make himself invincible. The old man has signed his own death warrant.

"How are we going to find those two, though," Yamato asked? "We have no idea where they are or where they might be going."

Kakashi sighed. "I have no idea where to even start," he admitted. "We have no clue where those two are, which means that we have to go all over the place to find them."

"They could be in one of the countries allied with the Akatsuki." Shino said in his usual monotone.

"It could be," Kakashi agreed. "But still that's four countries worth of lands to search, and that won't be easy, especially since we are the enemies with those countries and if we are seen or god forbid, captured, there would be hell to pay."

"Unfortunately, we don't have a choice," Yamato said. "We have to start somewhere, and I think that the best starting point would be the land where Hoshigakure is, as that land if the weakest link in their alliance."

"Hm, you've got the point there," Kakashi said. "Ok then," he performed a summoning jutsu and summoned a pack of ninja hounds. "It will be easier if we were to split up during the search. We will find a certain point, and then spread in several direction, but not more than five kilometers from that point. Once we searched that range, we will move to another, and search another five kilometer radius."

"That will take us forever to find them," Kiba complained, with Akamaru barking in agreement.

"It will," Kakashi agreed. "But that is the only choice we have. Now, I summoned my ninja pack, so that they will help us in the search. Two ninja hounds will go with each of you during the search, while Kiba and I will only have one partner. The hounds will help you in the search with their noses, and help in case you run into an enemy."

Kiba groaned while the others nodded silently in agreement, though none of them liked the plan, as they knew it will take them a while to find Itachi and Kisame.

They all sighed as they realized that this mission is going to last much longer then they originally thought.

XXX

Juvia and Suzumebachi were walking on the road which goes through the grass fields, which were filled with spring flowers.

The two of them had small smiles on their faces, as they seem to enjoy the spring weather and the sun which was shining down upon the two beauties. They were literally glowing under it.

They were currently on the way to the capitol of the Spring Country, in order to deliver the letter Naruto sent to Koyuki Kazahana. They have arrived in the country fast, using the Garganta to go from the Land of Whirlpools to several other locations, before they had to walk the last part, as none of the two have ever been in the Land of Spring, so they couldn't use Garganta to go there directly.

Still, it took them far less time to get there, then it would anyone else.

Once they got close enough to the entrance to the capitol, they were stopped by the gate guards. A pair of Samurai stood in front of the two beauties, looking at them with narrowed eyes, and with their hands on their swords.

"Who are you," one of the samurai asked? "And what business do you have in the Land of Springs?"

Juvia and Suzumebachi looked at each other, and then at the two samurai, before they cast glances at several other locations, where they felt the presences of more people. They assumed they were also samurai, but there might be some ninja as well.

Both girls thought that the Spring Country capitol has good protection if all these people are just guarding the gate.

"We are here delivering a message to Princess Koyuki," Suzumebachi spoke.

The two samurai looked at each other, before one spoke. "Who is the sender?"

"Princess Koyuki has sent a message to our leader few days ago," Suzumebachi said. "We are bringing the reply. Just inform her of that. She is sure to know who has sent us here. We are more the willing to wait here until you inform her."

Suzumebachi said this as she realized that the guards don't trust her and Juvia and would have probably continued to question them for, who knows how long. This way, she hopes to gain some trust, and convince the guards that they are not enemy, and are not there to start any trouble.

Finally, one of the guards looked toward the place where there was seemingly no one, but everyone knew that there is someone, and a moment later, Juvia and Suzumebachi felt someone disappear from that location. Most likely that person was sent to inform Koyuki of their arrival.

XXX

Koyuki Kazahana was currently seating in the meeting room in her palace in the Land of Springs capitol.

Koyuki hasn't changed much in the years since she took over the throne of the Land of Springs… at least not physically. She is still as beautiful as ever, and just like all the other daimyo, she is dressed in a beautiful royal kimono. She has her hair tied in a high ponytail and with two bangs falling at the sides of her face.

While she didn't change much physically, she has changed mentally. Ever since she has been saved by Naruto and took over as the daimyo of her own country, she has lost that stuck-up attitude she had, and it is much easier for other to approach her, without being looked at with disdain or sent to hell, which is how she used to treat majority of people.

At first she was constantly seen around her people and was smiling, but after Naruto's execution, she was still doing everything she can for her people, but didn't smile and much as before that, and the lack of smile on her face is one of the reason why people of the Land of Springs hate Konoha and its people so much. They quite like seeing someone as beautiful as Koyuki smile, and since what Konoha did took that smile away, they started hating Konoha with a passion… not that they already didn't hate Konoha ever since the news of Naruto's execution reached them. To them, Naruto is a hero who saved their princess, and made her into a better person, and as such, he is someone they respect a lot, and would have had no problem if one day they heard the news that Princess Koyuki decided to marry Naruto. Now though, that was all wishful thinking.

The Land of Springs, formerly known as the Land of Snow, has never been the richest country in the EN. It has never been the most powerful one, not even close, as they never had much Shinobi, and Samurai were nothing special. But what the Land of Snow had that the other countries didn't have, was technology.

They were decades in front of the rest of the EN when it comes to technological department, and the Land of Snow was proud of that.

Once Koyuki took over and the Land of Snow become the Land of Springs, the country has invested a lot in strengthening the country to be able to defend itself in case of the invasion, or in case someone tries to take out the current leaders, and become leaders themselves, like how Doto killed his brother and tried to kill his niece in order to rule the Land of Snow.

Many wondering shinobi and samurai have joined the newly named Land of Springs after Koyuki took over, and even some of the people from the Land of Water went there to start new lives, like Serafall and her sister, for example.

This migration has allowed Koyuki to make her country stronger and to have people with training, train those in her country who didn't have training and help them get stronger.

The Land of Springs doesn't have a Shinobi village, like most other countries. Koyuki has decided that for her country, it's not necessary to have the Hidden Village, but she has a large number of her forces, both Shinobi and Samurai, in the capitol or around it, and all those who live in the capitol or around it, which is about 90% of the country's population, are very well protected. The last 10% of the population are workers who work in the mines or in the fields, which were made after the country went from constant snow-covered land, to a country where Spring weather is constant. Those 10% of the population are also protected while at work by the groups of Samurai and Shinobi.

What the Land of Springs digs out from their mines, and what they make in their fields, as well as the animals they raise, is enough for their own needs and to keep the country independent as much as possible. It was Koyuki's decision to make her country neutral and independent from the other county in the EN, as she knew how those countries work, and was sure that one day, someone will try to screw her over, over something, and she will be in trouble then.

With the Land of Springs having its own sources of food, water, building material and armed protection, they are almost completely independent from other countries, and Koyuki was happy with that.

Many believe that the alliance between the Lands of Wind, Wave and Spring is only beneficial to the two smaller countries, but that's actually not the case… not completely at least.

The reason they even set to talk about the alliance for the first time, was because of their mutual respect for Naruto. They didn't like what happened to Naruto and since they have broken the alliances with the Land of Fire and the Leaf Village, they decided to talk about allaying with each other in order to help one another and for better protection.

That alliance is beneficial for all three parties, no matter what other countries think.

While it may look like the Land of Wind doesn't get much from the alliance with two small countries, that's not the case.

The Land of Wind is a desert country, and there is only so much you can grow in a place like that, from food, to medical supplies to everything else. The only thing that the Land of Wind has in abundance is sand, and that's not something many were interested in, as they have no use for it, which means that the Land of Wind has no use for it either and is only a nuisance.

Because they have a problem with food and water, as well with the Land on which they can grow everything they would need for medical supplies, the Land of Wind has a lot to gain from the Countries like Wave and Spring who have what the Wind needs.

Once the alliance was settled, the Land of Spring has allowed the Land of Wind to use of their land to grow whatever they need, and then transport it back to the Land of Wind, while the Land of Waves is regularly sending sea food to the Wind.

The Lands of Spring and Wave in return have been given some of the Sand's ninja, who trained the people in their countries to become shinobi so that they protect themselves.

Because of Koyuki's decision to now be dependent on other countries, the only thing her country accepted from that alliance are some of Wind Shinobi to train her forces, and for that, she has rented the Land of Wind some of her land to grow food and crops, which means that, if one day the alliance fails, the Land of Wind will have nothing to hold over her head, while on the other hand, Wind will have a lot to lose in case the alliance falls, as they will no longer have the place to use to grow food for themselves.

When it comes to the Land of Waves, they are the smallest of the three countries, and by far the weakest and poorest.

Their land is not suited to grown almost anything, though they have never had problems with food, as they are an island and have always had sea food in abundance.

With the bridge built by Tazuna, the Land of Waves has gained a way to import and export whatever they can and need, at the low costs, and their lives have improved a lot since Gato's death.

Even though their lives have improved, they are still a small country at the sea, where people can't eat anything except sea food unless they import it from somewhere else, which is costly, even if the transportation is not that expensive, the food tends to be, as the ones who are selling them food, know that they need it, and so are charging them the ridiculous amounts of money. Money, which the people of Wave sometimes don't have.

Since they entered into an alliance with the Wind and Spring, the things have gone a bit better for the people in Wave, but not that much. They made an agreement with Wind and Spring that they will send some people in the Land of Springs to work on the fields and grow food for both Wind and Wave. The Land of Waves, will also send sea food to the Land of Wind. The Land of Wind has also agreed to send some Chūnin to train kids in the Land of Waves to become shinobi and samurai.

On the other hand, there was literally nothing the Land of Waves could have offered to the Land of Springs, as they have nothing that the Land of Springs needs which they can't make themselves. That though, didn't matter to Koyuki, as the people of the Land of Waves see Naruto as their hero, and have even named the bridge after him, so she has decided to help them, even without getting anything in return.

Right now, Koyuki is seating on the chair, at the long desk. She is currently at the meeting with Gaara, and Tazuna, who was chosen to be the representative of the people of the Wave.

Around the room, there are half a dozen man and female, standing at several places, acting as guards. They are Koyuki's personal and most trusted guards.

One of them, is Serafall, and she is the strongest of the group, and is their leader. As for the rest, they are all high A-Rank and low S-Rank Shinobi and Samurai. Except Serafall, all the others are wearing Oni masks, so their faces are not seen, but their gender can be seen, as their clothing are not hiding that. There are three male and two female among them, with Serafall being the third female. The group's official name is, the 'Demonic Six'. They are named like that because of the Oni masks they wear, and because it sounds scary.

Gaara was also flanked by his brother and sister, who are acting as his guards for this journey and talk. Tazuna though, only has his daughter and grandson behind him, and no guards. Though, Inari did get a lot of training in the last three years, so he is at least capable Samurai to fight up to a Chūnin level opponent.

Even though she is a civilian who has never had any training, and is in her early thirties, Tsunami is a real MILF. She hasn't changed much in the last three years, and still looks very young and hot, especially since she is now wearing a better looking cloths, compared to near rags, she used to wear during Gato's reign of terror in the Land of Waves.

Tsunami has changed her hair style quite a bit. She how has her hair cut to her shoulders, and instead of it being straight, it's now wavy. It's also parted in the middle, and she no longer has bangs at the side of her face. The cloths Tsunami is wearing are a jean pants, light blue shirt, with top few buttons opened, showing her neck and chest. On top of the shirt, she is wearing a black jacket, with sleeves of both the shirt and jacket rolled up to below the elbows.

All in all, she looks pretty casually dressed, but still elegant enough for a meeting like this.

Tazuna also looks pretty much the same, with the only difference being that he has replaced fishing cloths he was wearing with a black pants, black belt and purple shirt, along with a black tie. He has decided not to wear suit jacket, as it made him feel uncomfortable enough just by being in these pants and shirt. Jacket would have made him even more uncomfortable.

Finally, Inari. He has grown quite a bit, and is no longer the insufferable brat he used to be. For the past three years, ever since the alliance was established and the Wind has sent shinobi to train some people in Wave, Inari has trained like crazy to become a samurai. He thought at first to become a shinobi, like Naruto, but he decided that it would be easier to learn to become a samurai, so he and a few others, were trained by a samurai sent by the Land of Wind. Over time, Inari has gotten really good, and is now considered to be the best fighter in the Land of Waves… even though he is just at the level of an average Chūnin.

Inari's hair has grown a little bit and is now messy, and slightly longer than it used to be. As for his cloths. He wears black boots and pants, with black shirt, which has high collar, opened on the chest area. Over all that, he wears white yukata with a blue swirl patter on the bottom and at the end of the sleeves, worn so that his arm only goes through the left sleeve and the right half droops down over hi obi. (Look up Sakata Gintoki from Gintama. Inari is basically his normal self, but his hair style and cloths are just like Gintoki's.)

The leaders of the three nations (Tazuna can be considered a leader of the Wave), have gathered in the Land of Springs to talk about the ongoing war, and how the things will proceed from there on.

None of their nations have been affected by the war so far, though Gaara was captured by the Akatsuki and had Ichibi extracted, which made him considerably weaker, and left the Village Hidden in the Sand without its greatest weapon, but besides that, they weren't affected in any other way.

The only good thing about that, is that the other villages have also lost their Biju, with the only one remaining being the eight tails jinchūriki from the Village hidden in the Clouds.

The fact that the Land of Wind no longer has Biju, and the fact that the Land of Waves is poor and has nothing to offer, should mean that those two lands are not high valued targets for the others sides in the war. The Land of Springs though, can be a valuable target as they are semi-rich, and have technology which goes decades beyond all the other nations. Because of that, they can be targeted, even though up until now, the Land of Springs hasn't been attacked by any side.

Currently, the leaders are talking about how to see to that potential problem.

"So, does anyone have a plan to how to deal with a potential threat to my country," Koyuki asked from her position at the head of the table? "My country doesn't have Biju so the Akatsuki should leave us alone, but I'm worried about the Land of Earth and the Village Hidden in the Sound. They are most likely to target us. And considering how close the Land of Earth is to my country, I'm almost 100% sure that they will attack very soon."

"You know that we will always help you in case you are attacked," Gaara said, and Koyuki nodded. "But the fact that the Land of Earth is so close to you, is a problem as my country is farther away, and will take a while for our shinobi to arrive to assist you in case of the attack."

"Well, we could always land you one or two of our flying ships," Koyuki said. She was referring to a new invention which the Land of Springs created several years ago, and has been in mass production since Koyuki took over, but hasn't been put to sale as of yet. "We could give you one for free, and rent you another one. We can agree on the kind of payment at the later date."

Gaara nodded. He liked the idea, as he has seen the flying ships, and has liked them from the first time he saw them. He considered them very useful, and if he was to have one or two, transportation of goods from one place to another would cost him nothing, and all the money he invests in buying the ships, will eventually return to him, by not having to pay transportation the usual ways.

"I like that idea," Gaara said. "I agree to your proposal, and I will also inform the Wind Daimyo of this, as he might be interested in acquiring one or two of the ships for his use."

Koyuki nodded with a smile on her face. It would seem that that flying ships are going to be a big hit, and her land will be making a lot of money by selling them to the interested parties.

Then again, now are the times of war, and she will have to be careful to whom she is selling her products, as she doesn't want her ships to be used against her and her people.

Koyuki then looked at Tazuna, and asked. "You said that you have something to ask," she questioned. "So what is it?"

Tazuna sighed. "Well, when it comes to the war, there is not much we can do," Tazuna said. "The shinobi and samurai we have are not good enough for large battle, and can only barely defend our country in case of an attack.

"I've thought about this for a while, you know. We are small country, quite poor and with the land which isn't suited for growing anything, which is why we have to rely heavily on the others. We have always survived as fisherman, but currently the times are tough and even though we are free now, the villagers are in constant fear that the war might reach us, and then it would be worse than during Gato's reign of terror.

"We love our country, and would like to continue to live there, but the lives of the people are more important than fighting for a country which can't sustain us for much longer."

Gaara and Koyuki, along with everyone else in the room, were listening Tazuna, and were wondering where he is going with his explanation.

"So, we have come to a decision, and I'm here today to ask if the people of the Wave Country would be allowed to move here to the Land of Springs, and live here from now on?" Tazuna finally asked what he wanted, earning himself shocked looks from everyone in the room.