"You're acting strange again, Itachi-san. Stranger than usual," Kisame said. "I know that look. I know those eyes. Are you reminiscing?"

"You always accuse me of doing such absurd things, Kisame-san."

"Well you leave me no choice. It's hard to ignore you when you're like that. If you're not walking down memory lane, could our new plans have you feeling jumpy?"

"Not jumpy. Just waiting."

"Unfortunately at the moment we're not the ones getting in on the action. Sasori and that idiot Deidara already set out. You think they can manage? The one tail, sure, but it's a bijuu nonetheless."

"They are a good team. You know that. If I were the Kazekage, I'd be worried."

Gaara sat at his desk in the bitter dark, paperwork done, most of the guards away. He gazed out the rounded window, at the sky, at the stars. Clear. A beautiful desert night, but he found he could not enjoy its beauty, for a knot had twisted in his belly, and worry plagued his mind. Not quite sure what it was, he knew something was coming, and with Akatsuki's confirmed activity, what were the odds it was anyone else? They were on the move. In order to protect the village and a friend, Gaara too, would have to make his move.

"Kuroki, so nice of you to join me. You're late," Gaara said, signing the bottom of a paper.

"I went to deliver those documents from yesterday, but got held up in traffic. Were you here all night?" She eyed the messy desk.

"Excuses." He didn't answer her question.

"Forgive me. Did you need something, Gaara-sama?"

"No. I enjoy tormenting you is all," he said. "Bring me that folder, would you?" He pointed to the shelf beside her.
"Anything else?" She set it before him. He sighed deeply. She watched him, waiting.

"I have a mission for you."

"Mission?"

"Yes. It will be a few days."

"There's no one else?" she asked. Gaara knew Kokoa would begin to wonder, begin to question his motives. She would try to read him, which is why Temari would fill Kokoa in on all the details. She didn't know Gaara's intentions in sending Kokoa on the mission, so if Kokoa pried for answers, she'd find nothing – or so he hoped.

"I'm still putting it together. You'll hear about it soon enough. Just giving you a heads up is all."

"Oh?"

"I need you to do it, Kokoa," he said. And he did. He did need her to leave. He needed her out and away from the village. Akatsuki was close. He could feel it in every bone. He was determined to help Kokoa get to Itachi, but he would not risk her running wild in the village in search of him. She was in control now, but he saw her when she found Sasuke after the Chunin exams. He knew the girl lost all control and reason when faced with those she loved. He had a village to protect. Kokoa needed to leave for Suna's safety and her own. Who's to say Itachi or any other member wouldn't kill her?

She eyed him. Something was off, but what?

"I know you usually don't do work outside the village. This one is on me. I'll owe you."

"Yes you will." She smiled.

"Details...I'll give you later tonight. I have to sort out the rest of these papers."

"Understood.

"You want me to assign her the mission?" Temari set both hands on her hips.

"She knows she's getting one. I just need you to tell her the details and make sure she goes," Gaara said.

"I'm busy as is. Why can't you tell her? You are the Kazekage after all."

"I'd be more than happy to tell her," Kankuro said between bites, stuffing his face in a manner that hade Gaara cringing.

"If you go near her and try cracking your ridiculous jokes, she will kill you, Kankuro," the redhead said.

"With a history like hers, I wouldn't put it past her. Never mind then."

"History? Does this have something to do with Kokoa's past?" Temari asked.

"Perhaps."

"Gaara -"

"It doesn't matter. I just need you to assign her the mission. That's an order, Temari." He crossed his arms.

"Fine, fine. I'll do it." She took the folder from him. "I just hope it's all for a good reason. Rumors or not, I kind of like the girl. She's tough. I can appreciate that."

"She is tough." He agreed. "Which is why she'll survive this."

Kokoa marched along, supplies to her back, weapons to her leg, a frown on her face, on her way to deliver a set of documents to Kirigakure. Temari gave her all the details and sent her on her way as ordered before heading to Konoha for other business. Kokoa had a feeling something was up before, but she was now sure Gaara had something planned and this random mission was a part of it. She wanted to stop by his office before heading out, but found that the Kage was off somewhere in a meeting. So she gathered her things and marched out of Suna irked and suspicious.

A few days passed. Kokoa was still out on her mission. Gaara sat alone in his office most of the time, going over paper work or enjoying the silence, until one evening something caught his eye, something strange he spotted through the window in the distance. He, however, did not move, staying seated. He waited.

Night fell. While Suna slept, Gaara stood awake and alert as always, only this time he slipped out of his office. And this time he stepped outside to the rooftop. And this time he stood face to face with a shinobi cloaked in red clouds.

"I gotta say, you noticed me pretty quickly, hm," Deidara said, standing on the back of his clay bird.

"Birds like that don't exist in this desert," Gaara said, standing on his own staircase of sand, both up in the air above Suna, eyes locked, ready to fight for their cause. He glanced around. One. Deidara seemed to be the only one. No other Akatsuki nearby. No Uchiha Itachi. He found himself wishing Kokoa would hurry back. Had it not been for the storm yesterday and the day before, she might have been there. Gaara would fight regardless. He would protect Sunagakure.

"Kazekage-sama?" A Suna shinobi spotted the scene in the sky. "What in the hell?" He ran off to warn the others.

"What do you mean something strange infiltrated the village? Yuura made sure we beefed up our security, right?" Kankuro moved down the hall, fellow shinobi in tow.

"We can't get a hold of Captain Yuura right now."

"What?" Kankuro came to halt, something twisting in his gut. "Let's go."

By this point, Suna shinobi lined the nearby buildings, wondering how they could help their Kazekage. Gaara and Deidara faced off, weaving in the sky; lethal. With Temari out of the village and Kokoa gone, Kankuro took charge, commanding the forces, desperate to help his brother.

"Gaara is using his Absolute Defense sand to fight," Baki said, stepping over to him. "We have to assume that the enemy is highly skilled. We also need to consider what to do if Gaara loses control," he said. Kankuro narrowed his eyes. "We need to consider a scenario where Shukaku comes out. And if Kuroki returns in the midst of this...the villagers are in danger."

"Hn, that won't be a problem. Gaara will never harm the villagers. No matter what."

"But the girl. She's on Konoha's list. She might have helped Uchiha Itachi massacre his clan, the very Uchiha Itachi who's in Akatsuki. Now they're here in our village and she's gone -"

"Gaara sent her on a mission. I think he had a feeling something was going to happen, so he sent her away so she wouldn't get involved," Kankuro said. "Kokoa is troubled and she has a reputation, but she managed to get close to Gaara. She earned his trust and that's not something anyone can pull off. If she shows up, we'd be lucky because she's strong and she'd do anything to save Gaara. Our main concern right now is that guy." He pointed to Deidara. "Not Shukaku or Kokoa's relationship with Uchiha. Got it?"

Kokoa pulled the hood tighter around her head, bracing the end of the storm. Gazing out ahead of her, she took a trembling breath. A feeling. The feeling. What she felt years ago when Itachi returned to Konoha for Naruto. Something was coming. Trouble was coming. Done with her mission, she mustered all strength and hastened to Suna.

Gaara fell defeated, sacrificing himself to protect the village. Deidara snatched the body and moved out. Furious, Kankuro followed, ignoring what others said. With the village in chaos, Gaara gone, and Kankuro running blindly after Akatsuki, Baki was left with no other choice.

"Have a pursuit squad follow Kankuro immediately!"

"Yes sir!"

"Also," he said, "send Konohagakure a message explaining the situation right away. Tell them it's an emergency. And if they ask about the Kuroki girl, you say nothing, only that she's detained somewhere and out of trouble. We don't need them making excuses not to help us or getting involved with Gaara's decision to send her out of the village. Got it?"

"Understood!"

"Naruto, you've met him before, right? Uchiha Itachi," Sakura asked. Team Seven was sent out to Suna after receiving their emergency letter, and ran into Temari who was also on her way back home. Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, and Temari raced against time. "I didn't just sit around when Tsunade-sama wasn't training me. I had full access to her library and took advantage of that. The man Sasuke-kun talked about killing long ago is his brother, Uchiha Itachi, a member of Akatsuki. He hurt Sasuke-kun. He took everything from him. That's why Sasuke-kun is with Orochimaru. For power. Orochimaru was once a part of Akatsuki. If we get to Akatsuki then we get to Orochimaru," she said. "And then comes Uchiha Itachi."

"Getting to Uchiha Itachi won't be so easy," Temari said.

"Hm?"

"You have two others already out and after him, Sasuke being one of them. I suggest you talk to the other person before doing something you'll regret."

"Kankuro? Kankuro?"
"Temari? You're back already?" he said, voice low and hoarse. She sighed in relief. Sakura had successfully removed Sasori's poison.

"I heard the village was in trouble. I rushed back."
"Sorry to make you worry," he said.

Kakashi discussed the situation with Baki. Chiyo and Ebizo had been summoned as well, all crowded around Kankuro trying to decide their next move. A silence swept over, save for the footsteps that soon paused at the door. They turned.

There she stood, in a scarlet Suna styles dress, a piece similar to a petticoat peeking from underneath. Arms hung at her sides in wide sleeves. A pair of not too tight charcoal capris sat snug at her hips. A white scarf worn often in Suna woven around her neck. Shinobi sandals reached up and stopped just below the knees. And her dark hair, much longer now, sat tied in a low side ponytail, resting on her left shoulder. Three small hoops hung from her exposed ear. A fire flickered behind blue eyes.

"My, my, it's been some time," Kakashi said, smiling softly.

"Thank God you're back," Temari said, placing a hand over her heart. Kankuro nodded, trying to steady his breathing, still hurting and tired. Sakura furrowed her brow.

"Eh? Kakashi-sensei, you know her?"

"Hai. And so do you, Naruto."

"I do?"

"So it is her then," Sakura said, jaw tight. Kokoa stepped in, head high, eyes dangerous, voice sharp.

"Long time no see, Kakashi-san," she said. "This is not how I wanted our reunion to go."

"I can say the same, Kokoa. I hope all is well."

"Eh? Kokoa? Kokoa-chan!" Naruto glanced between the two, eyes wide. "No way – "

"Way." She placed a hand on his head. "Should I be upset you don't remember me, Naruto? All I did was grow my hair out and get some new clothes. You're the one who has changed. Are you taller than me now?"

"You – you look older too. You look…." He took her in.

"That's enough." Kakashi threw both hands over the boy's eyes.

"You knew to come here. I assume someone filled you in on what's happened," Baki told her.

"Gaara is – they really got him?"

"Hai. And Kankuro went after them but was poisoned by Aka Suna no Sasori, another Akatsuki member. The Hokage sent this team for back up."

"Gai's team should be on the way soon," Kakashi said.

"Yeah, Sakura-chan saved Kankuro," Naruto said.

"Temari, what do we do?" Kokoa said, dismissing Naruto's comment. "What – why wasn't I here? I should have been here. I should have been beside Gaara – "

"He wanted you out of the village, Kokoa."

"Why?"

"He knew something was coming. He thought it might be Akatsuki. He didn't want to risk your life or the life of the villagers. He was afraid you might get emotional, so he sent you away to protect you."

"He didn't trust me?"
"That's not it, Kokoa. He was afraid you'd read him, that you'd see his true intentions. That's why he made me assign you the mission. He just wanted you out of trouble."

"Now he's the one in trouble. What's the plan? What are we going to do?"

"So you're the Kuroki girl they shipped over from Konoha a few years back," Chiyo said, sizing her up. "Your father was quite the powerful man in the past, had good relations with the village, but you...you were dumped on our doorstep in the midst of our own chaos. No Kage and shaky ties with the other villages. Who are you to waltz in here demanding answers?"

"Me? Kuroki Kokoa, daughter of Kuroki Akihiko. I'm sure you know about my past, so we'll leave that for another day. I currently serve directly under Kazekage-sama, and should anything happen to him, it's my job to make sure he's ok alongside Temari-san and Kankuro-san."

"You're fond of the Kazekage and rumor has it he was fond of you. Bonding over the slaughters of your past?" She commented on Gaara's killings, Kokoa's involvement in the massacre. Kokoa turned her face, lips sealed. It was not the time or place.

"I understand I'm under strict rules here, but I'm going after Gaara regardless. Demote me. Strip me of my shinobi status. Do what you will, but I'm going to save him. We both made a promise and he hasn't fulfilled his yet. I need him alive."

"You can't just go running after them. Look what happened to Kankuro," Sakura said, pointing to him.

"Baki, I've earned your trust, have I not?"

"Kokoa -"

"I know you're wary of me. I wish things were different, but in my time here, never have I stepped out of line. Please let me save him. Let me save my friend. Let me help."

"You have other motives, Kokoa. I know that. I can't just let you leave."

"Please. Right now I just want to bring him back. They almost took Naruto years ago. I've been there. Let me help my Kazekage. Your Kazekage. Regardless of what happened in my past." She waited, eyes never leaving him. He looked to Chiyo for an answer.

"The fool isn't going to listen to anything we say. Let her risk her life if she wants to," she said.

"She's a good fighter. If she goes, I can stay with Kankuro and help in the village," Temari said.
"She'll be with me, a former teammate. I'll keep an eye. You have my word," Kakashi said. "Besides, we need to catch up."

"Yosha! Kokoa-chan, it's good to have you back." Naruto flashed that grin of his.

"Go change and rest for a few hours while we organize things," Baki told her.

"I'll personally come get you before we leave," Kakashi assured her. She nodded and rushed out.

"Kokoa-chan...she's changed. There's something about her, Kakashi-sensei. And not just her looks!" Naruto rubbed his chin, wondering how to describe it.

"She's embraced her clan's history and her abilities," Temari said. "She's made peace with herself, trained hard all these years alongside Gaara, and now serves directly under him even though she's not a Suna native. Some people fear her which is to be expected considering the rumors. Others respect her and what her father did. She's not just some girl. You're right, Naruto, she has a strong presence, and this new Kokoa won't back down or give up when it comes to those she loves."

Sakura stiffened, the pieces clicking in her head.

"So," she said quietly to Temari. "The other person after Itachi is Kokoa, isn't it?" Temari never answered. She flashed Sakura a warning before returning to Kankuro's side. Sakura stood frozen. The girl who joined them to save the Kazekage from Akatsuki also had personal business with the organization. Sakura wanted to end Itachi, but Kokoa would kill her before she even raised her hand. Haruno bit at her lip, terrified, upset, wondering how all of this would play out.

A friend and story follower was so kind as to draw a quick a Kokoa in her current outfit :) Her Deviantart is xxser3ndipityxx if you'd like a peek: art/Kuroki-Kokoa-Original-519130365