Chapter 25

"Kira!" Sakura calls as we come to a stop. Being out of the fog I can finally feel what is around me. Sakura and Naruto come running and I could swear I felt Kakashi pause and his arms tighten around me slightly. Raising my head I look over to them and smile.

"Hey." I say plainly as they smile widely.

"Are you ok? What happened?" Naruto asks and I couldn't help but reach up and rub my ear closest to him with a frown.

"I got caught up in the Tsunami and my tree fell on me." I shrug before wiggling my toes and bending my ankle to test my healing. Patting on Kakashi's chest I slip out of his hold and tentatively stand at first. Making sure my leg will hold my weight before ever standing on it fully. "See, all better." I smirk and put my hands on my hips.

"Wouldn't expect anything less from you." Naruto laughs as Sakura smiles making me shrug again.

"Good, how about we go inside. Sakura, Naruto. You're on first watch." Kakashi says before walking towards an overly large wooden building that was really out of place. I tilt my head looking up at it curiously before glancing to Yamato who was following Kakashi. Talk about a handy skill. What did he do? Summon this thing out of nowhere? Shaking my head I move to catch up to the two Jonin.

"I have already sent Pakkun to Lady Tsunade to inform her of this situation. I'm not sure if finding Orochimaru's hideout takes precedence anymore." Kakashi informs me from over his shoulder.

"What do you mean, Kakashi. Did something happen?" I ask wondering if it is because of that energy coming from the lake.

"That's right you were MIA." Kakashi stops just inside of the building and puts his hands in his pockets as he turns to face me. "I sent Naruto out to the lake when we went to confront the enemy. He witnessed the Three tails and our enemy was fighting it."

"The three tails?" I ask him feeling my heart race but I fight to keep control of myself. The three tails, here? What are the chances? "Are you sure?"

"Yes, it seems the Akatsuki has not captured it yet, and Orochimaru wants his hands on it too. Either to further his own military strength or to keep it out of the Akatsuki's hands." I see.

"That would mean we should try to capture it ourselves because either way, it would spell disaster for everyone." I comment making Kakashi smile with a nod.

"My thoughts exactly. So for now we await Lady Tsunade's orders while trying to keep our enemies from obtaining the tailed beast."

"And continuing our mission. With any luck, we can kill two birds with one stone." I smile as Kakashi nods and walks up the stairs to one of the rooms up there. Once he disappears I lean against a wall near the stairs. To be honest the leaf never had much for luck. I nearly smirk to myself. Reaching into my pouch I retrieve my canteen. Bringing the cold metal to my lips and allowing the chilled sticky liquid to slide down my throat.

It wasn't long until Kiba, Sai, and Akamaru come down the stairs drawing my attention. "Going out?" I ask making Kiba laugh. "Almost forgot you haven't been on a mission like this. We are going out to relieve Sakura and Naruto of their posts." -Oh, I see.- I thought and give him a nod turning back to my own thoughts as I close my eyes. Letting them leave without any further delay.

Sighing I lean my head back against the wall. -I wonder if I should have offered to go on watch too.- I think silently to myself before the door of the building slams open. "Kakashi Sensei!" Sakura yells, her voice echoing through the walls with her urgency. Yamato and Kakashi come running to the wooden railing out of the room they had just been in. "What is it, Sakura?" Kakashi calls down to her taking in her wide eyes. "It's Naruto, he's gone!"

Opening my eyes I look to her lowering my head beneath my oversized collar with a smirk. Leave it to Naruto. "Yamato, let's go!" The three of them run out of the building followed by Shino and Hinata making me smile. Once they were out and away from the house I raise my hands and perform the usual hand signs. Feeling the link connect and grow strong.

"I do not have much time, but the leaf happened upon the three tails. They sent word to the Hokage. We are going to try and keep Orochimaru's men from sealing it." I speak low keeping a feel out for the others who were now congregated in one spot in the direction of where Sakura had been posted.

"I see, knowing the leaf they will try to seal it themselves to keep it out of Orochimaru and our hands... Good work." I nod to his words and close my eyes Showing him what I have seen of the lake and how we had gotten here to give him the exact location. "Deidara and Tobi are near there. I will inform them immediately. For now, continue with your mission. If it seems like the leaf will complete its sealing. Stop them." I nod to him feeling him cut the link like usual. At least now, thanks to Naruto. I have my orders. I nearly sigh as I push away from the wall and walk out of the building towards the others.

"We should split up and fan out and.." Sakura mentions only to be cut off by Kakashi. "No. The worst thing we can do is go wandering around recklessly in this fog. Yamato and I will follow Naruto's tracks." I lean against a nearby tree behind everyone and cross my arms as Kakashi quickly completes his hand signs before biting his thumb and kneeling. Slamming his hand against the ground. "Summoning jutsu." With a puff of smoke, a small tan dog appears wearing the same type of short sleeve vest Pakkun does. "You summoning me? Well, this is a surprise." The dog's squeaky voice pops up making me tilt my head.

"Pakkun's on a mission, so it's up to you Biscuit. I need you to find Naruto for me." Kakashi says crouched down in front of the dog. "Gotcha." Biscuit replies before Kakashi turns his head to look over his shoulder. "Shino, Kiba, and Hinata search the perimeter of the fog, Sakura and Sai will do aerial reconnaissance. Kira, hang back and wait for Pakkun."

"But, sensei. Kira isn't.." I push off from the tree and sigh drawing her attention back towards me. "You should remember, Kakashi always knows when I'm here." I pocket my hands and look past them at Kakashi. "I don't like it but I'll do as you say, someone needs to be here when Pakkun returns."

"The rest of you, stay together. Do not act alone." Kakashi says seriously before standing. Three of them take off towards the bottom of the mountain as Sai draws his weird bird. Completing his hand sign. "Super beast scroll." He says bringing his drawing to life. I nod to Kakashi before turning to walk back to the building. Leaving them to go find the knucklehead. Honestly, if Orochimaru is just wanting to thwart the Akatsuki. He'd capture Naruto and extract the nine-tails from him. It would be much easier that way.

Shaking my head I jump up to the roof of the building with a sigh. Setting down I rest back on my left hand looking up at the moon. I can only vaguely remember the last time I sat like this. Looking over towards my right from the corner of my eye, I could almost see his raven hair glistening against the moon while it shines off of his eyes as he looks up at the moon solemnly. "I guess... The first tie I made in this world... Is the hardest to ignore." Closing my eyes I set up shaking my head. "What is it about that kid… even back then he'd get under my skin."

"Who?" Sakura asks as she and Sai land next to me on the roof. Standing I glance at her and her eyes widen for a moment before she smiles for some reason. Looking away from her I sigh. "No one. Come on, someone is coming." I jump off the roof landing in front of the building and pocketing my hands. Sai and Sakura no sooner land behind me with a look of confusion before Pakkun runs into the opening from the trees. Followed by Shizune, tenten, Ino, and Lee. Reaching down I pick up the panting pug much to his dislike while uttering muffled protests against my chest. "Sakura, Sai. Go find Kakashi and Yamato. Tell them we have company."

"Oh... Right." Sakura says as Sai mutters he's on it. Already drawing out his bird again and summoning it. Turning I walk into the building with the other four on my tail. "Naruto was Naruto and took off. The others will be arriving back shortly. They are only about a kilometer out. Kakashi and Yamato went to retrieve the knucklehead." I inform them as they close the door behind us. Absentmindedly petting Pakkun I finally turn to them.

Setting the pug down to rest I motion up the stairs. "There is a room up there we can wait in. Shizune." When she nods to me the look of exhaustion still strong on her features I walk up the stairs having them follow me up and into the room, already lit up by a candle. "Have a seat. I'll go back outside and watch for the others."

"Kira. Wait." Shizune says causing me to look at her from over my shoulder. "Are you alright?" By her question, I curl my hands into fists beneath my long sleeves. I give her a smile. "Should be soon. Since you're here I bet Tsunade decided to seal the three tails to stop Orochimaru and the Akatsuki. If we do that then both of their plans will be ruined. Then maybe we can rest easy." I look away from her and sigh. "But for now. We have a battle on our hands tomorrow and I'd like to remain focused." Walking out onto the balcony I jump back up onto the roof.

I told her I would watch for the others instead I lay back with my arms behind my head. I have my orders to follow. I can't let myself continue feeling for these leaf ninja when I just may have to kill a few of them tomorrow. I frown looking up at the moon. In a way, I've forced myself into this situation from the beginning. Not wishing for any ties that would prematurely end before my time is up. I just have to live with it.

As I predicted Shino, Hinata, Kiba, and Akamaru arrived first. The noise level was already growing in the building by the time Kakashi, Yamato, Naruto, Sakura, and Sai arrive. That just made it become even louder. Rolling over I close my eyes trying to drown out the noise as I continue watching the perimeter for the enemy. With everyone inside laughing I doubt anyone has even thought about it.

Surprisingly it didn't take long before Naruto leaves the building and walks towards a group of trees overlooking the valley. It was only about five minutes before anyone else noticed he was gone from having been caught up in their own conversations. I frown remembering setting with him beneath the moonlight before the final chunin exam. He was always so happy but now. It's like there is a weight on his shoulders that he tries to hide from everyone else. He is slowly being drug into the darkness that I had wanted to keep him from years ago.

Shaking my head as I get up I jump down onto the balcony and walk into the building. "Kakashi, Sakura, Sai, and Naruto are on their way back." I inform them before finding a corner and setting down. I'm not sure if anyone heard me or if they even really care. They were still just sitting in their little groups laughing as they wait. "Hey, Kira! I heard you fought the biggest of our enemy, is that right?" Lee questions as he calls to me from where he sets in front of Kiba. I give him a nod. "Wow! What was he like?" He speaks excitedly with a weird grin that seems to fit his odd look perfectly.

"He has superhuman strength and speed. A lot like you in the speed department. But his movement is unrefined and easy to interpret. It's clear he hasn't had your training." I nearly sigh as a fire ignites in his eyes and he begins to happily talk about how I've noticed his abilities. Honestly. He was a lot easier to deal with when he was obsessed with Sakura. When the others walk in it was almost like a switch had been flipped. Everyone stood and quieted down. Gathering around Shizune.

"Alright, everyone listen. I'm going to go over Lady Tsunade's plan of attack and review the new team formations." I sigh bringing my knees to my chest and resting my arms over them closing my eyes. Unlike the others. I don't need to needlessly stand to be able to listen. "First of all, the search and rescue mission to Orochimaru's hideout is now complete. Sakura, Hinata, Ino. From now on you'll be under my command." She pauses as the ones she named nod and answer with a yes. "As for the rest of you, you will be forming a new unit that'll be under the direction of Kakashi."

Opening my eyes I look towards Kakashi to see him nod from beside Shizune. "Alright, our team's new assignment is to locate the Three-tailed beast and seal it by any means necessary. What's more, as that child seems connected to this, we must protect him at all costs." Naruto gives a sound of relief as he smiles. "It's not the Akatsuki alone that covet the tailed beasts. If it becomes known that a tailed beast exists with no jinchuriki the other nations are bound to join the hunt for it."

"So that young boy was brought here to be transformed into a jinchuriki, is that correct?" Sai asks looking at Naruto making the blond give a sound of question before Sakura glares at him and puts her hands on her hips. "Sai!"

"oohh, I guess I forgot you're a jinchuriki." He says lightly making my eyes roll. Naruto just backhands him lightly in the shoulder. "You dummy, you always say stuff without thinking don't ya. But still... I bet you're right about that. Sealing the three tails and protecting that kid, that's so he doesn't end up just like Gaara and me. Isn't it? Right, Shizune?"

"Yes, that's our intention." Right, you just want the tailed beast for the leaf to further enforce the village's power. Just like everyone else. "But the plan isn't to capture the tailed beast. If we manage to seal the beast we're going to send it to another dimension." Wait what? "That's Lady Tsunade's, the Hokage's will."

"Alright! What are we waiting for!" Naruto shouts as Kiba crosses his arms. "One thing, the tailed beast has a huge reservoir of chakra, right? I don't see how we can put a seal on it."

"Yes, it will be extremely difficult. Requiring amazing amounts of Chakra control and concentration. Sakura and Ino, you've trained in medical ninjutsu. Your experience will be very useful. As will Hinata's."

"Umm... Well, I don't have any training in medical ninjutsu, Ma'am. Wouldn't Kira be a better fit?" Hinata speaks up unsure if it is really wise to have her part of that particular team. "Actually I was speaking of your ability to control chakra. You may not be a medical ninja but your Byakugan can see the flow of chakra. That and your mastery of the gentle fist will come in handy. You'll be very important." Shizune tells her as Kakashi puts his right hand in his pocket.

"Yeah! Hinata, you're amazing." Naruto shouts happily as he leans towards her. "As for Kira, her mastery of chakra control and medical ninjutsu would make her the perfect candidate. However, her skills will be necessary for fighting the crystal user. She said it before if you remember. Her fighting style is almost like she was meant to be the user's weakness." Kakashi informs her though his words made me look away to avoid meeting his gaze. What he said is true but I have a feeling Tsunade wanted to keep me away from the beast.

"Yeah... I guess the girls might be better at delicate chakra control than us guys." Naruto pouts crossing his arms. He then nods to his own thought before he perks up again. "Hey, what about tenten why didn't you pick her?"

"Well I guess it's cause my chakra control is rough right?!" Tenten yells as she pulls her chain and sickle twirling it around over her head in anger. As she growls at Naruto he backs up waving his arms sweating. "N. No I. I didn't mean it like that at all."

If only to alleviate the tension Kakashi begins to speak causing Tenten to stop spinning her sickle and let it drop to the ground so she can listen. "The rest of you will work under Captain Yamato and myself to provide protection. I'm sure I don't need to point any of this out to you but, the people who are after the three tails won't wait around for us to finish sealing the beast. They'll hit hard."

Kiba grumbles at Kakashi's words. "The crystal user and the rest." He glares forward as Lee puts his hands on his hips with a grin. "I say bring them on!"

"But how will our team be structured?" Tenten was the only sensible one out of the three to speak up. Wanting more information on what we are to be doing. "Yeah... About that.." Kakashi says sounding almost bored. "I have an idea."

"Well? Come on don't hold back! Tell us already." Naruto complains drawing my attention back to Kakashi who now has a determined and serious look to his eyes. "As I see it the most critical part of this battle will be to stop the crystal style user. However, if all of us fight her the sealing team will be left without protection. Which is why I'm thinking of splitting this team in two. With one half concentrating on her. Naruto, Sai, Shino, Kira."

"Alright!" Naruto shouts cutting Kakashi off. "You four will operate under my command. To confront the crystal-style user. And all the others.." Kakashi then looks over his shoulder towards Yamato. "You know what to do."

"Yes, understood." Yamato then moves away from the two other jonin and motions towards himself as he speaks. "Okay, those of you whose names weren't called before, gather round."

Tenten grumbles as she complies. "He makes us sound like we are the rejects." Sighing I get up to follow Kakashi and the other three towards the ground floor to talk. I click my tongue in annoyance. Even if I understand why they are putting me to fight the crystal user. This is going to make it difficult for me to prevent them from sealing the three tails before Deidara and Tobi get here.