Taking a deep breath, Genma dove back into his mission reports, filing them in the silence was only broken by soft breathing and the swipes of brushes against paper. The night went by in the same manner, and only toward the early morning did Genma finally retire alongside his fellow shinobi. All around them the world slumbered, slipping into peaceful sleep that would only be broken the next morning when all hell broke loose.

I~~~~I

Akihane woke for a fresh start in the morning. Camp was incredibly lively as everyone prepared for the coming fight, leaving her to get ready for her own mission. She was quick to gather the supplies she would need for the day. After acquiring more scrolls from Jiraiya and food from the cantina she was prepared for her little meeting with the Rokubi. After meeting up with Terumi and Genma, Akihane was ready to go. Terumi sent the two of them off with a farewell, too engrained in the current war efforts to join them as she would have liked to.

Aki set off with Genma. They made their way to the usual meeting spot, careful to avoid the patrols in the area. It was more than a little concerning to see the increased amount of Mist Shinobi in the area. It was almost as if Yagura was preparing for something big.

Lead settled in Akihane's gut as they neared the spot. Something was definitely wrong. She had learned from Jiraiya to never dismiss her feelings. Stopping in a manner that normally would have surprised Genma, Akihane took stock of everything.

"I don't like this. Increased patrols in the area, a focus on where we are going…And I think I saw sealing scrolls on that last patrol." Akihane informed Genma. The assassin turned to survey their misty surroundings. The mist was heavier than normal too. It was hard to see around them. Akihane glanced around, her eyes not the only thing surverying the area. Her chakra was stretched out as she used her sensory techniques. An over abundance of chakra…and seals. Lines of seals along the trees in patches, normally hidden to those who didn't have as keen of an eye as she did.

"They are planning a trap." She murmured in realization. More than likely, they were the targets. Her eyes shifted up to Genma's as she bit her lip. They had a few options now. They hadn't been noticed, but they could be spotted if they tried to return to the base. That could lead to a much more complicated situation. They needed to inform the rebellion of the developments quickly.

Akihane shifted and flashed through handsigns. The familiar weight and molding of her chakra settled as she slammed her hand into the ground. There was a puff of smoke before a relatively small head of a white wolf appeared, its body vibrating in place with happiness as the young cub stared up at Akihane happily.

Chuckling, Aki gave Yuki some head pats, taking out some parchment. She had been busy over the past few months, training Yuki whenever she could. He was now under her summoning contract and seemed to be improving leaps and bounds. Still, it was rare when she could use him in real missions. It seemed to excite the Ninja Hound as she directed him to deliver the message to Shikamaru. She would deliver the message to Jiraiya, but she had a plan to use the toads for that as an advanced warning system. After giving Yuki another pat on the head the dog shot off.

Genma observed her quietly as she summoned a toad next, sending him off with a message to her wayward Godfather before she stood again. The toad vanished in a puff of smoke to go find the Toad Sage, leaving the two shinobi to plot their next move.

Akihane took another deep breath as she let her chakra settle around them. She watched for each patrol, and then she spread her senses farther. Farther and farther, feeling each hint of chakra, each rise in the natural flow until- There!

Her eyes snapped open, feeling the presence of both Fu and another Jinchuuriki. They weren't alone though, bordered by another group of Shinobi and engaged in combat. The group had seals on them too, though none would trully hold a Jinchuuriki for long.

"Fu and Utakata have been compromised. We should head there immediately." Akihane informed Genma. The man nodded, allowing her to take the lead with her current knowledge of the battle that they would be dropping into. An easy dynamic for the two despite the difference in ranks between them. Genma was used to deferring to her though as a member of the Hokage Guard Platoon, now nicknamed the new Uzumaki Guard after the debacle with Tsunade.

(They were still Tsunade's guard, but the woman had always joked that they would serve Akihane before anyone else and she wouldn't have it any other way.)

They soured across the swampy ground and scraggly trees. The gnarled branches were nothing like those of Fire Country, but they served their purpose well enough in the trek to the Jinchuuriki.

The chakra in the air grew dense quickly, heavy enough that even those without sensory abilities would be able to feel it. Akihane pulled back her own range with practiced ease to not be overwhelmed before she dropped in with Genma. She flashed a few handsigns to the man, informing him of the positions of several enemy shinobi and their two comrades. That was all it took for Akihane to burst into the fray and decimate the group.

Genma was quick to handle the Shinobi in the rear while Akihane rushed a group of shinobi that were armed with sealing scrolls. They hardly had any chance to react before she was diving through them, cutting down their ranks with her sword. Wind whistled around her, silently executing all but one of the Mist Shinobi.

Genma finished his own group just as the flash from Fu alerted them that she had finished the last of the group that had surrounded Utakata and herself. Akihane chopped the man below her on the side of the neck, intending to seal him up and bring him back for interigation. Her eyes shifted up as she noticed Fu and Utakata approach her. Her senses stretched, taking in the hum of chakra around them. There was no mistaking the Jinchuuriki haze. It simply coulnd't be faked by clone jutsu.

Akihane allowed her own haze to bubble and rise against her skin, the warmth of the Kyuubi's chakra filling the air for only a moment. Fu immediately relaxed when she felt it, realizing that Akihane was indeed her friend and not another enemy trying to fool them. Utakata tensed more, but he calmed as Fu rushed over to tackle her fellow kunoichi in a hug. Akihane twisted, catching and spinning with the girl to avoid eating dirt. It was a common action, one that never quite got old in the ivory kunoichi's books. She rather enjoyed the contact with Fu. It made her wonder if this was what having an older sister, one closer to her own age, was like.

"Naru! You made it! I got worried when I saw all of the Mist Shinobi. I thought they might have caught you on your way over!" The girl said, her eyes bright as she looked over Akihane's form. There was very little one could say about wounds on a Jinchuuriki, but even then the girl searched for the faintest hints of scratches or blemishes on her friend.

"I'm fine. I noticed the increased patrols and used my sensory abilities to get here without a problem. I also sent word back about what is going on. DO you know anything about the patrols?" Aki asked the girl, stepping back as they finished their embrace. Fu glanced over to Utakata at the question, gesturing for him to speak.

Utakata blinked, his gaze calm and almost unnerving. Oddly enough, it reminded Aki of a certain Uchiha back home. Utakata spoke, his voice just as calm as himself. "There was a recent order done by Yagura. He called back most of the outside patrols to increase focus on one of the strongholds. He also sent out patrols…one of which followed me here. I think he caught wind of my turning of sides and decided to stop it in it's tracks." He spoke.

Akihane nodded and glanced over to Genma as he arrived back at her side. He leaned down to seal up the prisoner she had knocked out, setting the scroll at his side as he quietly hummed. He flicked the senbon in his mouth around his lips, thinking the situation over.

"From what I've gathered just from preliminary information…It sounds like Yagura found out about this meeting, and possibly about our strategy to ambush from the trench. We should return to the others to inform them." Genma spoke up, glancing to Akihane.

The Uzumaki sighed and looked over Fu and Utakata again, pressing her chin into her hands as she went over the new plan of action. "We must have a mole in our midst then…We'll have to deal with that later. For now, Utakata-San, Fu, would you agree to join us? Apparently today just got a whole lot more complicated." Akihane asked as she met their eyes.

Fu looked excited to be getting some action, her eyes shining as she nodded sharply. Her mouth quirked into a deadly grin, one befitting a Jinchuuriki. Utakata only nodded solemly at her, taking her lead as she turned back to Genma.

"Haku and Zabuza will also need to be informed. Can I trust you to make it to them?" She asked. She hated to split off from Genma, but time was of the essence. There was too much at stake for her to be overprotective of Genma. The man was a Hokage Guard for a reason. He could handle himself.

Genma nodded, reaching out to ruffle her hair before he nodded to the other two. With that he turned and took off to where the last known checkpoint for Zabuza's group.

Akihane set off soon after, the two Jinchuuriki behind her matching her pace. They moved quickly but efficiently, capitalizing on Akihane's ability to sense the lingering patrols to avoid as many as they can in order to return to the base quickly.

It didn't take long for them to arrive at the bustling camp. All hands were ready and moving, shinobi bouncing around and claling out orders. Akihane pushed through the throngs of people as she neared the War Tent. When the three arrived, Akihane was greeted by chaos. The guards at the front stepped forward until they noticed exactly who was arriving. They stood down, Chojuro was that one to step up and guide her and her companions inside the tent. Terumi was the first person that Akihane saw, before her eyes settled on the hunched figure of Shikamaru. Amidst the chaos the shinobi had tilted his head down, his hands locked into a familiar pose. Knowing that interrupting the Nara wasn't a good idea, Akihane strode over to Terumi instead.

Upon seeing the Uzumaki, Terumi ground to a halt. Her eyes shifted behind her, taking note of the absence of Genma and the other two that flanked her. She nodded, grimacing and turning to the board. Pieces had been shifted and thrown askew.

"Jiraiya and the preliminary party just sent word that they have encountered an ambush. I sent word to Zabuza to back them up." Terumi informed Akihane. The girl tensed, feeling her earlier dread rise up.

It was fine, Jiraiya could handle himself. Moreso than even Genma. She didn't need to worry-

"Yagura was spotted close by. The shrimp knew! We had a mole in our midst and he used that to plot against us!" The red haired woman snarled, her face twisting as residual heat from her boiling chakra worked its way through the room. Akihane felt the bad feeling grow as she stepped across the table from Terumi.

"I can go then, back them up. With Fu and Utakata-" Akihane began, her mind already running with multiple ideas on how to handle to situation and get the company and her Godfather out of this mess. She was cut off abruptly as Shikamaru finally spoke, his eyes opening as he stretched form his positon.

"Nope. Not happening. We can't go rushing into this. Yagura is planning on you jumping in after Jiraiya, it's what always happens. We need to think clearly about this Naru." Shikamaru ordered. Naru opened her mouth to protest, but stopped. She could hear the calming voices in her head, both of which told her to listen to the boy.

Taking a deep and rattling breath, Akihane gestured at Shikamaru. The boy was quick to shift his way over the board. He observed the current setup, his hands shifting pieces until they matched their information. Then…In a string of movements reminiscent of shoji, he began to plot his moves. They five others in the room watched him work. They were silent, the only noise the echoes form outside as shinobi rushed about. Akihane observed his movements and her eyes widened when she saw exactly what he was planning.

It was foolhardy, a little desperate…and exactly what they needed. Akihane stepped up to the board as she grabbed the piece that Shikamaru was reaching for. He lifted a brow at her, but he observe as she shifted it right into the space he was going to. Everything was properly situated. Now they only needed to execute it.

I~~~~I

Well hello there. It has been a hot minute since I have written anything for this story, but hopefully, that will change. College has been a true kicker, so right now I'm just maximizing free time to spend it with friends and my boyfriend. I should be able to work more on this story too. Expect a much larger update to come out soon enough, likely within a week or so. This was just to get me back into this and give you all a chance to possibly recap. I am debating on a small summary for the beginning of the chapter to help those who haven't read in awhile, so let me know if that would be something you guys would be interested in. Thank you so much for reading!