Harbinger

by tigerowl

Naruto's friendship with his teammates Gaara and Haku is put to the test as they prepare to deal with the threat of the Akatsuki. The secrets Jiraiya has kept come to a head, and Naruto must shoulder the responsibility of protecting much more than the Leaf Village. Continuation of Forlorn. AU NaruHina, GaaSaku, NejiTen, ObiRin, OCs *Taoism, Self-Indulgent World Building, longfic

14. Under A Lucky Star

A/N: I have a favor to ask, folks. Please feast your eyes on my sidekick story, The Ocean in a Teacup, when you have the chance. Even a brief glimpse will do. It is good, cheeky fun with Zabuza and the Seven Swords in a semi-AU plot. It updates much faster than "Harbinger" thanks to its shorter chapters, so allow it to hold you over during "Harbinger dry-spells". Reviews are of particular importance for "Teacup" because suggestions are being taken into consideration, so if you can please grace it with you presence! And to those of you who are already enjoying it I humbly thank you. Now back to your regular reading schedule.

---

Chapter soundtrack:

"Nanairo" by Jazztronik

"Confusion" Bloodbath Remix by New Order

Chapter 14- Under a Lucky Star

"Today's special is all you can eat for only 1,200 ryo! So if we split it four ways that means we only spend…uh…"

"It will be 300 ryo a person, Chouji." Sakura promptly informed him, "That is much better than usual."

Sakura took a seat across from Ino and Chouji at the table and after a moment Hinata chose the spot beside her.

Asuma's students had just returned from a mission and upon arriving Shikamaru had been summoned to Tsunade's office. When their stomachs all growled in unison Shikamaru only sighed, "Just go ahead to Yakiniku Q…I'll catch you later."

Chouji had been talking about the new deal for two days. They had to go.

To be more economical, Ino and Chouji had extended the lunch invitation to Sakura and Hinata, who had earlier been practicing the Palm Healing technique together. They had worked on it all morning with no breaks and had also worked up an appetite. It was sure to be a pleasant affair.

"How did your mission go?" Hinata asked politely.

"You know; the same old song and dance…pick up an old, priceless chest from one castle and escort it to another…typical C-rank." Ino replied, resting her chin on her hand. "What have you ladies been up to?"

"Hinata-chan's gotten the hang of the Palm Healing jutsu." Sakura was smiling with pride, "Her chakra control is the best I've seen since Tsunade-shishou's. Have you been practicing as well, Ino?"

"Well I haven't for a few days…"

"Practice with us tomorrow morning!" Hinata suggested, "The Medical Corps have been letting us heal small injuries in the hospital lobby. Hokage-sama said that was fine."

"Yeah, that is better than practicing on kittens and fish." Ino agreed, "After I open the shop tomorrow I'll stop by."

"You guys have really been advancing quickly…" Chouji observed, "I'm going to need to double-up on my training with Dad…"

Sakura leaned in over the table, wearing a sneaky expression, "That's a good idea, Chouji. In fact, we should all be pushing ourselves harder for a while. I have some exclusive news that no one but Shizune-san and I know yet…not even the Jounin!"

Wide-eyed, her friends all turned to her expectantly. The waitress arrived. They hastily ordered the meats they wanted to barbeque and then urged Sakura to spill the beans.

Sakura smiled cleverly, "Tsunade-shishou is beginning to organize the next Chunin Exam! She's been trying to get approval from the daimyo this past week…and she's had her work cut out for her trying to convince officials that Konoha will be a suitable host this time."

"How soon will it be, do you think?" Hinata chirped.

"We have to keep our mouths shut, but it will most likely take place six months from now. Maybe sooner if she can get approval and funding..." Sakura reported excitedly, "So when I say keep our mouths shut, let's tell our friends and remind them to not blab about it to the Chunin and Jounin!"

"Wow, this gives us such an edge! Advanced warning!" Ino was thrilled, "Now we can get started right away instead of waiting for Asuma-sensei to prep us a few weeks before!"

"Yes, if it's approved then we are good to go! And if not, we are still preparing for an exam that may just be hosted in another village…probably Hidden Sand!" She added cheerily.

"Just one thing…" Chouji interjected, "Shikamaru can't compete with us. He's already a Chunin. How can we qualify if we don't find another Genin-level teammate?"

"That's true…there really aren't many other Genin besides our class-group…" Sakura acknowledged.

"That should be no trouble." Hinata assured him, "Fujita-kun is now a Genin. He is very gifted. I'm sure Tsunade-sama would allow him to participate with you and Ino-chan!"

"Alright!" Ino was elated, "Sakura, Hinata…thanks for bringing us great news!"

"Yeah!" Chouji agreed, clapping his hands when the dishes of meat were set on the table.

"Kiba-kun spoke very highly of your cousin." Sakura pointed out, "I haven't met him yet. Is he your first cousin just like Neji-san?"

"Oh no, we're second cousins! We have the same great-grandfather." Hinata clarified, "But his family is also part of the Main Branch, and are highly skilled in our clan's techniques."

"I heard he and Kiba tried to bring Sasuke back to the village on their own, even after they got captured by Cloud ninja!" Chouji added.

Sakura's eyebrows rose. She nodded, finding she could not comment on the topic that was still a little too raw for her. Thankfully, Hinata changed the subject and maintained the upbeat mood. While her friends roasted their food on the charcoal braziers and chatted, Sakura retreated into her own thoughts.

It had not been easy for Kiba to explain the ordeal to her. They had sat on a lakeside bench on the outskirts of the village. She did her best to keep an open mind and listened as he chronicled the mission to her in great detail. At the point when Sasuke made an appearance she felt her chest clench. It disturbed her even more that he had pestered Kiba for information about her.

Sakura had debated her choice of dating Gaara a few times. They cared for each other a great deal. Gaara would never put her in jeopardy or harm her. He was honorable and successful.

Overall he was the sensible choice, but Sasuke had been her first choice. She acknowledged that initially she had promised Sasuke the future he was asking for, and that perhaps he was still within his rights to be angry with her after Kiba announced her relationship with Gaara.

'And now…Sasuke may do something to hurt Gaara because of me.' She wrestled the thought away, 'No. He's the selfish one hurting people! He left me in the middle of nowhere when he ran off to Orochimaru! Why the hell should I feel guilty when he put everyone through so much?'

Sakura slapped two slices of pork on the grill and watched them hiss.

'Excuse me for trying to get on with my life!' She thought venomously, 'I deserve to be treated right! Suck it up and come back to Leaf if you feel like you've been wounded so badly!'

Yet it gave her pause when she reflected and still felt strongly for Sasuke. She could not condemn him to walk the dark and destructive path he had embarked on…but he had lost his chance of being with her. Moving on and loving Gaara came naturally; it was not a scarring or confusing process at all. It was difficult being apart from him, but she could say with confidence he would never betray anyone he cared about, 'Most especially me.'

And with this firm new outlook she had earlier patted Kiba on the shoulder and told him to relax.

"Gaara-kun can handle it." She told him, "I love him. That may drive Sasuke crazy if he hasn't gone crazy already, but I don't regret it."

Her priority was making the most of Tsunade's instruction and training to become stronger. Gaara, Naruto and Haku had always harped on the importance of forging onward, and like them she too refused to bend.

"I think that's burning, Sakura." Ino gestured to the meat she had forgotten on the brazier.

"Oh." Sakura snapped out of her thoughts and with a pair of tongs snatched up the charred meat, "Sorry! I zoned out for a bit."

She examined it and frowned, "Hm. I guess I'm not eating this."

"Here Sakura-chan, this is ready." Chouji thought nothing of sharing his barbeque with her, "So will Naruto be back in time for the exam?"

Hinata perked up after hearing the question. She chewed a bit faster when she considered it. In his previous message, five days earlier, he had made no mention of returning to Leaf anytime soon.

Sakura had also deliberated briefly before concluding, "I don't know. Tsunade-shishou said he and Jiraiya-sama had traveled far past the Land of Bears…and that isn't a short trip to begin with."

"I…I don't think he'll make it." Hinata shook her head, "He is too far away and has not made preparations to return yet."

Ino clucked her tongue, "It's a shame he'll miss it."

"What about Gaara and Haku? Do you think they'll be participating?" Chouji wondered.

"I don't know about Haku-kun, he may want to. He's in Hidden Sand with Gaara so I'm sure he can make the trip when the time comes." Sakura speculated, "And Gaara, well…"

Ino quirked an eyebrow and asked, "What about him?"

"He is already a Jounin. He may come to watch the exam and cheer us on, though." Sakura continued, thinking to herself, 'Sure he'll be here to watch…he'll be the Kazekage presiding over the Final Rounds! Heck yeah!'

"Ha! I'd like to see if Gaara knows how to cheer!" Chouji was amused.

"Hm…Gaara-kun's cheering may be...a quieter kind of encouragement." Hinata estimated in all seriousness.

Her friends turned to her and howled in laughter.

---

After an enjoyable lunch the friends pitched in to cover the bill. While leaving the restaurant Sakura mulled over what she needed to do later in the day, 'I promised Tama-chan that I would train with her once I wrapped things up with Tsunade-shishou. I think Mom asked me to pick up some things from the store too…'

"Thanks for eating out with us ladies!" Ino was very pleased, "We'll be sure to spread the good news to the appropriate ears!"

Sakura nodded, "Of course! But don't forget to keep it from-"

She fell silent. A huge shadow moved over them as they stood in the street.

Ino and Chouji looked down and watched it race by, determining it was no Nara-manifested shadow. Hinata quickly looked up and gasped. Her friends did the same.

A woman flew over the heads, gliding elegantly through the sky over the Leaf Village.

Ino and Sakura shouted in unison, "What is that?"

Hinata used her Byakugan to come up with a hasty approximation, "That shinobi is using chakra manipulation like I have never seen before! There are others with her as well!"

A moment later two more shinobi, though younger in appearance, flew over their heads on translucent wings.

The friends made sounds of confusion and awe, wondering if it was time to become alarmed. Foreign shinobi appearing so abruptly often heralded battles, and more dire was the peril if they managed to enter the village so easily. Sakura managed to wrap her head around what was happening.

"Well…Shishou did say that she was expecting guests from another village today." She told her friends, "Although I didn't think they'd be flying here."

They were interrupted again by Sato as he raced over rooftops, giving chase to the flying ninja. He called down to Hinata below, "Sunshine! Are you seeing this?"

His camera flashes followed in quick succession.

---

"Thank you for coming, Natsuhi." Tsunade smiled as she welcomed the Star kunoichi, "You could have waited at the village gate for an escort, you know. I think you scared the daylights out of some of my villagers."

"Forgive me, Tsunade-sama. I wanted to get here as soon as possible to speak with you." Natsuhi apologized.

Tsunade smiled at her and thought to herself, 'I can see why Jiraiya urged me to meet with this woman. She certainly is a beauty…and the leader of her village. She's a kunoichi after my own heart!'

Natsuhi turned to the two shinobi standing beside her, "These are my students. This is Hokuto," She gestured to the friendly-looking girl, "And my son, Sumaru." She rested her hand on the young man's shoulder.

When they both bowed to the Hokage, Sumaru's dark green braid slipped off of his shoulder. 'He's a beauty like his mother...' Tsunade thought. The trainees were disciplined and confident when they spoke, "It's an honor to meet you, Hokage-sama."

"It's good to meet the both of you as well. I've been told you are the only two shinobi in your village to continue Dragon Star Training under the supervision of Natsuhi. That's impressive." Tsunade laced her hands under her chin and leaned against her desk, "I should introduce my shinobi as well…this is my assistant Shizune," Shizune nodded and readjusted Ton-Ton in her arms, "And this is one of my newly promoted Chunin, Nara Shikamaru."

He nodded from where he stood at the side of the room, "It's nice to meet you. I actually didn't know Star was a real village."

"It's a good thing people consider it a myth." Sumaru replied, "The people who do know it exists usually give us trouble."

Shikamaru considered it, still out of the loop on what made Star ninja so formidable.

Natsuhi stated her purpose, "I know that we discussed this some time ago, but I am here to escort a team of yours to my village. Hopefully you will be able to discover a way to help the young ninja who have been harmed by the star's power."

"I will be sending my apprentice to oversee the particulars for the examinations, as well as a group who can support her. Once she determines the extent of those affected they will be transported to Konoha. It could take some time to study their symptoms and treat them."

She nodded, "I understand, Tsunade-sama. I am truly grateful for your help."

Before Natsuhi could enquire how so many sick children would travel hundreds of miles the door of the office opened. A group of young ninja entered, curious about the Hokage's visitors.

"Ah, good!" Tsunade was pleased, "This lot makes up the team I will be sending to Star with you." She turned to the genin, "You have good timing! I was just about to send for you for a briefing."

"Really, Shishou?" Sakura was surprised.

"Yes." She turned to Natsuhi, "This is my apprentice, Haruno Sakura." Sakura smiled and nodded to the woman with the Star headband.

"Sato, Hinata; you are both available for a mission, yes? I needed Shino elsewhere but I know you two will be more than enough to accompany Sakura to the Hidden Star Village." Tsunade addressed them, "I've asked a Jounin to go with you as well…but he's an hour late."

Sato pooched his lips. He could already tell who was going to chaperone them.

Ino and Chouji, who had already labored on a mission earlier, filed off to the side of the room beside Shikamaru.

"Why will we be travelling there, Tsunade-sama?" Hinata asked.

"Natsuhi is the leader of the Star Village and she has been in contact with Jiraiya and Naruto. They hope that students who are suffering from the effects of Star training can be helped here." Tsunade began, "Natsuhi will give you the specifics once-"

Kakashi entered sheepishly and greeted everyone in the room, "Ah, so I am the last one...as usual…"

"Kakashi, this is kind of important!" Sato barked at him, "You should have been the first one here!"

"It looks like everyone just got settled so I'm sure I can catch up," Kakashi smiled beneath his mask, "Please continue, Hokage-sama."

"As I was saying," Tsunade gestured to the woman in the room and Kakashi nodded to her, "Natsuhi will explain the star's effects to Sakura in great detail before you leave. Sumaru and Hokuto will accompany you all to the Star Village and then back to Leaf. Natsuhi will be staying here to give me further details and act as collateral."

"Collateral?" Sato was confused.

"There is no established peace between our villages, so an exchange of great value must be made in order to avoid a double-cross." Natsuhi explained, "I am the Hoshikage. Without me my village will be crippled. You can be assured that so long as I am here Sumaru and Hokuto will cooperate with you fully."

"That's harsh, but that's the way it is." Shikamaru agreed.

"If everything goes well I am sure we can all look forward to an alliance between our villages." Tsunade added optimistically, "And I know all of you are wondering how I intend to transport a dozen or so ill children. Allow me to make it clear that Hatake Sato was chosen specifically to make it an easy task."

Sato made a small huh sound and then smiled, "Oh, I see! Alright, Tsunade-sama. I'll do my best."

Hokuto and Sumaru looked at Sato quizzically, wondering how a trainee was supposed to make the long journey an easy task.

"You aren't the only shinobi who can fly, you know," Tsunade told the Star ninja smugly, "Sato is an adept summoner of owls that can help you bring the children here safely."

Natsuhi chuckled at their faces as they grasped the fact their ability was not exclusive to the Star village.

"Prepare for a long journey." Tsunade advised the team, "Kakashi will oversee major decisions and act in accordance with what Sakura finds. Sato, you are entirely responsible for the safe passage of Natsuhi's villagers, so please take your duty seriously. Hinata, you should be on the lookout for any threats while you travel and help keep the children in good condition."

"Do you expect us back at a certain time?" Kakashi asked.

"No, however if you are in any way delayed I expect you to correspond with me." Tsunade told him, "After Natsuhi and Sakura have their discussion you may leave with Sumaru and Hokuto. I wish you all a safe journey and good luck!"

Shikamaru and his teammates exited first and were followed by Kakashi, Sato and Hinata. Sakura lingered while Natsuhi had a few last words with the Hokage.

"Thank you so much for agreeing to this, Tsunade-sama." Natsuhi said, "While you and I wait here for their return I would like to tell you more about my time with Naruto and Jiraiya-sama."

Tsunade smirked, "Oh I'm sure it was very eventful…"

---

Sakura had to hustle through the market to pick up the groceries her mother had asked for. After speaking to Natsuhi she had a more thorough understanding of what she was dealing with.

'Students in the Hidden Star Village were having a difficult time with side effects from training near the "star" which they have been able to control, but not cure.' Sakura was considering it as she picked up milk, 'I am going to go ahead and assume it is reversible, or at least manageable, considering that some shinobi have developed a resistance to it, like Sumaru. I need to find out what is deteriorating in their bodies when they contact star-chakra…and if most of the students have consistent problems. Maybe brief contact is less severe than prolonged contact?'

She snatched up a package of pork chops that were on sale and she hurried to pay for her foodstuffs.

She recalled Natsuhi saying something peculiar to her:

"Sakura, how much do you know about the origins of chakra?"

"Excuse me?" The girl was confused, "I guess…it is passed down from our parents; our ancestors?"

"Quite right. There was a time when human beings had no control over chakra." Natsuhi told her, "My grandfather used to tell me stories about the old "world tree". It was thought to be a concentration of chakra so immense that Tailed-Beasts paled in comparison. It was said that the fruit of the world-tree is a manifestation of concentrated, ancient energy. He claimed that fragments of world-chakra came into existence that way. The legends he told me didn't make much sense until I began training in the presence of the star…"

"Are you telling me the star is a fragment of that?" Sakura frowned, "As in, world-energy? I am not sure if I am getting this."

"That's alright, I struggle to understand it myself," Natsuhi admitted, "My husband once suspected our star could have been a part of the world-tree long ago, before it disappeared. Humans are able to extract immense amounts of chakra from it; however it can have a steep toll on the body. He died from his complications before we could discover more about it."

Sakura held her chin between her thumb and forefinger as she thought, "And…you said it fell from the sky and landed in your country?"

"Yes, long ago…"

"Honestly, it sounds a bit far-fetched. You seem to imply that our shinobi ancestors harnessed this chakra and passed it down to their descendants…and some of them must have died trying." The pink haired girl was stewing over the information, "So why would most present-day ninja not suffer from harsh affects? Does this suggest we became acclimated to chakra?"

"I think that is exactly what it suggests." Natsuhi got to the point, "That is why I am convinced the children who trained near the star can be helped. Sumaru, Hokuto and myself are proof that shinobi can survive such training."

Sakura smiled, "I hope I can prove you right. If this turns out to be true…Tsunade-sama is going to have to update some of her medical theories…"

After the conversation Sakura had bought food and then jogged home. She had barely mulled through the house for more than a minute before her mother, Mebuki, began nagging.

"Sakura, why are you late? I wanted to get started on those pork cutlets!"

"Here." She dumped the bag on the counter beside her mother, "I'm sorry, I was talking to the Hoshikage."

Her mother did a double-take, "You were…there's a Hoshikage?"

Sakura nodded, "Yes, she's great."

Mebuki's face shifted from surprise to acceptance and then back to irritation, "And you didn't invite her for dinner?"

"Are you serious?" Sakura shouted, stomping her way to her room, "She's a village leader! She's going to be dining with Tsunade-shishou as far as I know!"

She entered her room and then poked her head back out, "And just so you know I won't be joining you for dinner! I have a mission to go to the Star Village with Kakashi-sensei!"

"Oh no you're not! I haven't seen you for the better part of two days! Your master is running you ragged!" Mebuki hollered back, "Leave tomorrow morning for your mission!"

"No way! Look, we can spend quality time when I get back!" Sakura was replying with a raised voice as she threw together a travel-bag, "I need to help people who are sick!"

"You do that every day!"

"Ugh!" The Hokage's apprentice was frustrated with her mother's stubborn attitude, "You know what? You aren't telling me what to do anymore! I'm going!"

A silence followed. The silence was broken by the sound of a toilet flushing and Sakura's father, Kizashi, exited the washroom innocently.

He folded his newspaper and chuckled, "My! It's getting loud in this house! I suppose Sakura's home?"

There was no reply.

He shuffled in his slippers over to the kitchen and saw his wife trimming the fat from the pork chops. Fury was radiating off of the woman and he kept his distance, asking quietly, "Um, dear, did our daughter come home?"

Mebuki ground her teeth, "Of course she did! And like always she is preparing to run right back out the door again! I'll be an old crone by the time she stops to share a meal with us!"

"Now, now, darling, she's a busy kunoichi just like we always prayed she would be," Kizashi was smiling, "You know she'll be back soon."

"She'll be back soon, sure, but she doesn't care about anything I have to say!" Mebuki over-peppered the chops as she continued angrily, "Sakura thinks: I'll stay out all of the time now! The Hokage is my master and I can take missions and train so I never have to see my parents!"

Mebuki turned to face her husband, "And that boyfriend of hers! What is she thinking?"

"She said his name was Gaara." Kizashi informed her, "He may be in Suna now, but I hear he is quite doting!"

Mebuki huffed, "He's a strange boy! That silent, intense type that's just…he's not what I pictured for her."

"We should meet him! I always wanted to visit Hidden Sand." Her husband was quite supportive of the relationship, "I'll tell him some jokes! A pun on sand would go against the grain, wouldn't it?"

"No puns right now, please…" His wife sighed, turning back to the pan on the stove, "I'll feel better when I finish dinner. Will you please go talk some sense into our daughter?"

"I'll get right to it!" Kizashi flashed a grain at his wife in an effort to diffuse her anger. He shuffled down the hallway to his daughter's bedroom and stopped in the doorway.

"Good grief your mother is edgy!" He told Sakura, "It's only because she misses you, I hope you realize that. You've undertaken so many responsibilities in a short amount of time…we're both reeling from the change."

"Dad…" Sakura sighed, heaving her backpack onto her neatly-made bed, "I understand. She flips out because she cares; you're always reminding me…I just wish she would let me go without a fuss for once."

"Well, parents should always take the time to tell their children they love them." Kizashi reasoned, "If one day, heaven forbid, you didn't come home from a mission…I would never want to regret not having the chance to tell you how proud and happy I am to be your father."

Sakura bit her lip, "Dad…stop! It's just…it's just a routine mission. You don't need to worry."

He walked into her room and pulled her head to his chest, hugging her, "I can't help it, Sakura. When you ran off with your teammate a while back, your mother and I panicked. I know you are busting your ass to prove to the Hokage that you can make good decisions and be reliable…but your mom and I still miss you."

The pink haired girl squeezed her father around the middle and then stepped back. Leave it to her father to explain all of the emotions that her shrieking mother could not articulate properly. Though Sakura loved both of her parents, she would not hesitate to admit she was a Daddy's-girl.

She smiled, "Thank you, Dad. I know I disappointed you…but I'm working hard because I do think of you and Mom, and I don't want you to ever worry about me making that kind of a mistake again."

"To be honest, I personally trust that you won't behave that way." Kizashi told her, scratching his pink-bearded chin, "You see…that boyfriend of yours is probably keeping you on your toes. You wouldn't want to do anything to upset him again, because I remember how he looked when he brought you home…" He chuckled, "A bit wild-eyed!"

"I know…and he's already a Jounin…" Sakura hung her head, "I feel kind of lame when I think about how far behind I am."

"Oh please! You are also talented, Sakura, and Tsunade-sama would not have begun training you if you were a waste of time." Her father reminded her, "Stop feeling sorry for yourself! Look at me! I'm still a Genin! In time you will have the same skill and strength as our Hokage." He tittered at the thought, "Take pride in how hard you work. Just because you don't reap rewards immediately doesn't mean it isn't worth it."

Sakura pulled her pack on, "You always know what to say to make me feel better, Dad."

"It's my specialty." Kizashi folded his arms, "Well, my second specialty! My real ability is doing puns, but your mom asked me not to make any today."

"Yeah, she probably needed a break."

They looked at each other and laughed. Kizashi kissed his daughter on top of her head, "Be safe and do your best! I look forward to having some koala-tea time after you return from your mission!"

"No puns!" Sakura barked and then assured him, "But I promise, Dad, we will!"

After saying goodbye to her mother and dodging Mebuki's angry thrashing, Sakura made it back out the door.

---

A short time later Sakura joined her team at the village gate. Natsuhi was saying farewell to Sumaru and Hokuto, who still seemed to have their concerns about leaving her alone in a foreign village.

"Please don't worry. The Leaf Village is very honorable." Natsuhi assured them, "I like to think of this arrangement as a short vacation…"

Sumaru scoffed at her explanation, but Hokuto chuckled with her master. After a bit of encouragement from Kakashi, Natsuhi turned back and joined Tsunade. Tsunade gave the team a confident wave before walking away with Natsuhi, excited to get to know a contemporary and make a new friend.

Kakashi looked from Sumaru and Hokuto to Sakura and then sighed, "Well, the Land of Bears is quite far away. By foot it could take us about five days, give or take. So…it may be most appropriate to let Sato take over from here."

Sato was thrilled with the announcement, "Thanks, Kakashi! Hm…I guess two should be enough."

After biting his thumb and drawing blood, Sato summoned his two favorite owls: Gyorai and Kutaiku. The birds had grown to be very large; each about the size of a full-size garage in height. They stood calmly beside Sato and ignored Sumaru and Hokuto's amazed expressions.

"Before we do anything else I should share some etiquette with you guys." Sato directed the comment at Sakura and Kakashi, "Sunshine has flown a few times before, so she has the hang of it."

"Etiquette?" Sakura asked.

"Well, the first rule is: don't pull out any feathers. That will get them riled up." He walked up to Kutaiku and gestured to a thick, braided rope glimpsing out from beneath feathery down on the bird's chest, "They both have these for you to hold on to, or get leverage if you need to stand or fight. Try to stay as low and compact as possible, and remember it can get pretty loud at high speeds, so we may need to shout…"

"We don't have to worry much about falling." Hinata added.

Sakura gave her an uncertain smile, "I guess you speak from experience?"

"Hey, these guys are good! Even if you get knocked off I guarantee they'll catch you." Sato grinned, "I mean, look, I'm still alive. I've made like thirty intentional jumps already!"

"That is a sterling testimonial." Kakashi agreed and then he turned to Sumaru, "We'll be following you back to your village. Is there anything you need to share with us?"

"Yes, actually," Sumaru's eyes went skyward, "There is a Jetstream about 10 kilometers above us that runs from East to West. It can cut our travel time to the village in half. However, on our return to Leaf we must take a traditional route which will be significantly longer, especially with the children."

"They should all be well enough to fly back," Hokuto surmised, "If we pace ourselves and take breaks, the children shouldn't be too exhausted by the journey."

After the announcement both Sumaru and Hokuto made hand seals and formed swallow-like wings of radiant chakra.

Sakura narrowed her eyes in thought, 'So that's it…Star chakra…it really is unlike what most shinobi use.' The pair of Star ninja took off, and she followed Kakashi to where Gyorai was waiting for them, 'It's visible, tangible and it behaves differently with the environment. I guess I should talk about this with Kakashi-sensei once we get to the Star Village.'

She climbed up first and Kakashi hopped up after her. They positioned themselves side-by-side, if a little awkwardly. Sato appeared to be a complete natural when he mounted Kutaiku with a smile and made himself comfortable.

Sakura wondered, 'Has Kakashi-sensei ever done this before?'

Sakura turned to her teacher curiously. As if he read her mind, he gave her a look that read: I have no idea what I'm doing. She returned the sentiment with a small frown. Sakura secured her arms under the braided rope and then pressed herself flat against the owl. Then the ground was gone.

'No! No! Why are we doing this?' Was her initial thought, or rather, mental scream; as they ascended. Each wing beat seemed to drive them upwards, crushing them flat with pressure and wind, angling in the breeze in a way that was wholly unnatural for a human being.

In Sakura's opinion, rising up was the worst part of flying. While her stomach did somersaults and jigs she remained dutifully silent, holding on for dear life as the bird banked and flapped, combatting gravity. A short time after taking off they leveled out and settled into a glide that was a most pleasant change.

She had a millisecond-long glimpse of the distant, shrinking ground below them, and she quailed, grateful that Gyorai was flying smoothly at last. 'Okay, this is better...I can get used to this. I don't really mind heights either, it's just...' She looked over to Kakashi who remained expressionless, 'He didn't make a peep!'

Kakashi turned his head and chuckled, "Well, that was awful..."

Sakura nodded and thought to herself, 'Ha! I knew you were shitting your pants too!'

Ahead of them, Sumaru banked to get close to Kutaiku. He had a verbal exchange with Sato that they could not hear over the rushing wind. The Star ninja then pulled up and rose over them to rejoin Hokuto. Sato and Hinata, as far as Sakura could tell, were comfortable passengers on Kutaiku's back; sitting up and laughing while they spoke. 'It's obvious they're both used to this. I'm just glad they aren't watching Kakashi-sensei and I freak out back here.'

"It's something else, isn't it? How easy Sato makes this look?" Kakashi mused, "My nephew has more skill than he lets on. He's quite modest about his abilities, when I think about it."

'He's right. He's been training with Sato a lot since I began spending extra time with Tsunade-shishou.' Sakura considered it, 'Kiba said that Kakashi-sensei had once thought about disbanding our team after Sasuke left and I became Tsunade's apprentice. When Tama joined us I think he decided to keep us together and continue teaching us. I'm glad he did.'

While she was much busier bouncing back and forth between two mentors, Sakura felt she had no right to complain. She was gaining valuable knowledge for the battlefield and for saving lives. Occasionally, she did feel guilty that she did not have more time to spend bonding with her teammates. Tama was always happy to have girl-time with her, and Sakura was especially proud of Kiba, who was consistently displaying maturity and wisdom. 'Compared to how we've grown together...I can only imagine how Sasuke has changed.' She was grateful that Sasuke had not been brought back to Leaf yet, 'I am just not emotionally or mentally prepared for it.'

She relaxed as time dragged by, watching as the forested countryside rolled by far, far below. After an hour or so, Sumaru swooped down to speak to Kakashi; his voice was not that difficult to hear while nearby.

"We're going higher now, so hold on tight when we enter the airflow! It should be fine once we are inside of it." Sumaru advised.

Kakashi acknowledged him and they proceeded rising again, which was not as unbearable as it had been at first. Sakura did find it alarming how much space was between her body and the ground, though. The typical, fluffy clouds she had been watching were now below the flock as they sailed through clear sky. An odd pattern of clouds above them, dotted in a row, was the first indicator of the Jetstream. Hokuto and Sumaru moved first, and it fooled Sakura's eye when the pair made contact with the current of air and then seemed to reappear a considerable distance ahead, 'It's like it's pushing them! Is this even a safe idea?'

She could see Sato and Hinata pressed flat on Kutaiku's back, preparing for their entrance. Hinata's hair, now past her shoulders, flapped wildly in the wind. 'Hm. She looks good. I think I'll keep my hair short for the rest of my life, but Hinata can pull off long or short.' Sakura ceased her distracted thoughts and held tight as the increased wind signaled the Jetstream's proximity.

Gyorai and Kutaiku banked into the stream and the sound of rushing air was deafening. Once inside, Sakura could only vaguely detect their increase in speed, particularly because she had no landmarks to use as a reference. She was getting used to the softness of the owl's feathers as she pressed flat, fearful of being knocked from Gyorai's back. What felt like a little more than 20 minutes to Sakura passed and Sumaru exited the Jetstream. Everyone followed suit, and it was then after leaving the fast-moving air current that Sakura understood just how far they had traveled.

The landscape of the Fire Country was long gone; mountains and canyons were abundant, with a scattering of tall, dark pine forests. 'Oh man! We've got to be close!' Based on Natsuhi's description of the Land of Bears, Sakura could tell that they were nearing the Star Village.

They settled into a comfortable glide again, and Sakura relaxed, shutting her eyes. Two hours passed and thick woodland came into view, sprawling far and wide beneath them. Puffed cumulus clouds drifted by as they began descending, following the Star ninja as they navigated the wilderness.

Hokuto did a playful roll in the air and Sakura was snapped out of her travelling-stupor. The Hidden Star Village was finally visible, and the shadows of giant birds slipped over the ledges of the canyons below as they approached it. After Sakura peeked to get a closer look at the buildings nestled within the forest, Kakashi perked up as well. They soared over the village and circled around, landing carefully in an open yard. Sakura breathed a deep sigh of relief once they were no longer airborne.

She slipped down from Gyorai's back and stretched her arms, 'Being bunched up there was getting old!'

Her companions met the ground as well, stretching the stiffness from their limbs. Kutaiku turned his large, feathery face to Sato and said, "We'll be ready to help whenever you need us, Sato."

"Got it! Thanks for bringing us here." He gave his feathered friend a pat.

"Not at all." Both owls disappeared in a large puff of smoke.

While the group was settling, Kakashi came to stand beside his nephew, "Well done. That was rather painless, though I can't say that I enjoy flying…"

"I know it's not your thing." The boy gave him a teasing smile.

"Will you have enough chakra when you need to summon more birds in the future?"

"I can manage ten or less before I am pushing it." Sato told him, "Or I can just give it my all to summon Kutaishi, but the boss warned me not to summon her. She is not friendly at all..."

Kakashi gave him a stern look, "Kurenai told me about that. I agree that maybe you should avoid her."

Hinata was smiling as she glanced around at their surroundings. She clasped her hands in front of her; a habit that Sakura knew her friend often did while thinking. Sakura came to stand beside Hinata and took in the sights with her, "How did your ride go, Hinata?"

"It was quite nice!" She had genuinely enjoyed it, "But I could see that you and Kakashi-sensei took some time to adjust. It can be quite nerve wracking at first."

Sakura was slightly embarrassed, "You...were watching us?"

"Yes, with my Byakugan." Hinata admitted, "I wanted to make sure you were alright. Sato-kun wanted to as well."

"We looked so stupid at first..." Sakura lamented, "It was stressful! Even Kakashi-sensei was freaked out. Please excuse any weird faces we made."

Hinata giggled, "Of course! I only laughed once."

Sakura playfully nudged her friend in the side.

Three Star Jounin approached the group and Sumaru greeted them, beginning with an introduction, "We're back! Here is the team from Hidden Leaf that came with us. This is Hatake Kakashi, Hatake Sato, Haruno Sakura and Hyuga Hinata." He turned to his Leaf companions, "Allow me to introduce the veteran Jounin of my village: this is Bai Lu, Nomi and Miketsu." Hokuto waved to Miketsu and mouthed silently, Hi Dad! Her father restrained a grin.

Bai Lu, a man with intense eyes and a grayness that foretold how he was pushing 50 years of age, smiled at Kakashi, "Welcome! Ah, I see that Copy Ninja Kakashi was tasked with helping us. This truly is a distinguished visit."

"Actually, I'm the grunt this time. These three will be doing most of the work," Kakashi replied cheerily, "Sato is in charge of transportation, Hinata is here for security, and Sakura, my student, will be conducting medical exams."

Miketsu eyed the smaller Hatake, "Oh? Is this your son?"

Sato blanched.

"Nephew, actually." Kakashi corrected.

"The resemblance is rather uncanny," Bai Lu agreed, "And these kunoichi look promising indeed! I want to thank you all for coming. I am sure you must be tired from your journey; please rest a while before continuing."

Everyone with the exception of Sakura was nodding in appreciation. The pink haired girl spoke up, "I'm actually feeling fine. I would like to see the children right away, if I could."

"Are you sure?" Kakashi asked.

"I am." Sakura affirmed, looking to Sumaru and Hokuto, "If it's alright with you guys, I would like to begin my initial examinations now."

"Sure!" Hokuto was lively as well, "I can bring you to the infirmary and show you around."

The shinobi filed off after that; Sakura followed Hokuto to the administration building which housed the hospital wing. Sato and Hinata joined Sumaru when he offered them a short tour of the village, and Kakashi was quickly swept up by the curious trio of Jounin who wanted to know a bit more about Kakashi's career and life in the Fire Country.

---

Sakura walked in between rows of hospital beds, staying a few paces ahead of Hokuto. Some of the beds were empty and Hokuto explained that a few of the children were well enough to go outside and enjoy the fresh air. Sakura was glad to hear it. A pair of children sat on the same bed, playing a board game with pebbles. Many chatted with each other, looking surprisingly healthy, while others lay asleep with labored breathing. Sakura took in the sights and assessed.

'There's a lot of variety when it comes to those affected...I wonder...' Sakura turned to Hokuto and asked, "Hokuto, can you tell me if any of the children have recovered on their own?"

"Yes, four of them, to be exact; a few weeks ago." The girl acknowledged, "They've resumed missions and they seem to be quite healthy, although they do get regular checkups."

"Four recovered." Sakura repeated it to herself, and she looked about the room, counting, "There are nineteen kids here. Twenty-three originally affected, besides you and Sumaru, which makes twenty-five." She paused, "Um...do you and Sumaru have any injuries related to the Star?"

"Not really, we just get exhausted sometimes." Hokuto told her, "But some of the physical effects on other children...lesions and scars...they're very serious. I am not sure why some are so terribly affected."

"And Natsuhi?"

"She has some scars, but she ended her training long ago."

"Okay..." Sakura walked with her chin cupped in her hand, thinking.

Hokuto faced the children and raised her voice, "Listen everyone! This is Sakura-san, a medic-nin from Konohagakure! She's here to study how we've all been affected by the Star, so please cooperate with her while she conducts some brief examinations for the next few days. If anyone feels uncomfortable I will be right here supervising."

They all chirped in acknowledgment.

Hokuto introduced Sakura to the first child, a trainee who was about 11 years old, hoping to get a strangely-colored patch of skin checked. The boy conversed pleasantly and seemed to be in good spirits. Sakura asked routine questions about symptoms: nausea, eyesight, hearing, body pain, bleeding, swelling, etc. She asked politely for him to remove his shirt to get a look at the scarring on his back.

While checking him over, Sakura let her thoughts flow, 'If I am going to test Natsuhi's theory, I need to see that Star after my examinations...because this looks like a chakra-burn to me. I've never seen one before and they're kind of rare, Tsunade-shishou said. I need to compare Sumaru and Hokuto's health, as well as the four recovered kids, to everyone else here to get a scale of the damage.'

In her element, Sakura went from child to child, taking her time with each meticulous observation.

---

While Sumaru accompanied Sato and Hinata around his village for a walk he told them of his experience with Naruto.

"I'll admit I had difficulty accepting outsiders before I met him. It seemed like every shinobi from an outside village who ever came here started some kind of trouble or made demands." Sumaru sighed, "All Naruto demanded was that I learn to trust others. He had me convinced after I was reunited with my mother...and it did help that he kindly defeated our corrupt village leader at the time."

"Naruto likes taking out the trash for people!" Sato laughed.

"Yes, he does take it upon himself to do that sometimes." Hinata agreed, "He has helped many people in the Leaf Village as well."

Sato nodded, "It's true! He's helped me, his teammates, Sunshine, Neji, people in the Land of Waves..." He became a bit quieter when he added, "Every person who he's spent time talking to should count themselves lucky. If Naruto cares about something...he'll move mountains to see it through."

Sumaru concurred with the statement, "My village was much better off after he and Gama-sennin arrived to help us. It's been a gift that keeps on giving, really. Now that we have changed here in Hoshigakure, we in turn are more willing to help others."

He showed the Leaf shinobi notable eateries, residential areas, shops, two training dojos, a sky-gazing platform with its own telescope, the local forge and arsenal, hot springs, lodges and then finally stopped in front of the Administrative Building. Sato asked where he suspected the Jounin may have taken Kakashi, and Sumaru pointed him in the right direction, "They might be at the tea house, knowing them."

Sato thanked him before leaving, "Thanks! I'll meet up with you later, Sunshine."

She nodded. Hinata walked with Sumaru past a group of small children coloring with chalk on pavement.

"This is the most isolated village I have ever seen." Hinata told him, "It is so small, and you only need a few businesses and services to take care of all the villagers."

"We are quite self-sufficient." Sumaru assessed with a hint of pride.

"Is Konoha the first outside village you have been to?"

"Yes," He confessed, "It was so huge...we stayed together so we wouldn't get lost."

"Will you visit more villages?"

"Probably after my mother formalizes an alliance with the Leaf village. We want to have some credibility before we take contracts for outside missions; to discourage unwanted attention." Sumaru explained, "I'm not in a hurry, though. Life here has really improved and I want to enjoy it for a while."

"I see."

"Akahoshi was defeated and thrown out, my mother was asked to be Hoshikage...I'm in love with someone." He reflected on the thought, "It's almost ideal."

"Almost ideal?"

"Well...Hokuto is my girlfriend."

"I suspected that." Hinata confirmed with a smile, "But that's a good thing! You are very sweet together."

"Thank you. It's just...it has created some challenges on my team." He shook off the thought, "But never mind that. It's been worth all of the trouble. So tell me, are you a good friend of Naruto's?"

She became quiet, trying to contain some of the excitement and joy that bubbled up in response to the question. She clasped her hands, allowing herself to smile with some composure, "Oh yes."

"I had a feeling you were, when you and Sato were talking about him."

"He and I have been friends since we were small children. I loved him for so long, but I never had the courage to tell him," Hinata told him and Sumaru looked at her sadly, "But now...he's my boyfriend!"

Sumaru laughed in relief.

"He makes me so happy." She continued with a spring in her step, "It isn't easy to be apart from him while he travels with Gama-sennin. After being by his side for so long...this is the first time I have truly missed him."

---

After inspecting a few of the more seriously ill children, Sakura was introduced to Mizura, Hokuto's other teammate. Sakura's first impression of him was of a friendly young man who was still upbeat despite the disfiguring scars on his chest. She concluded the exam and asked Hokuto for a quiet place where she could take notes. Hokuto and Mizura shared a strange, tension-filled stare before saying goodbye. Hokuto quickly showed the Leaf kunoichi to a study down the hallway.

Sakura took a seat at a table and began pouring her thoughts on paper before she could forget any of her findings. Hokuto stood beside the table, looking doleful. A few minutes passed before Sakura glanced up. She noticed the other girl's distress, "Hey...are you alright?"

With a deep sigh Hokuto took a seat across from Sakura and rested her chin on her folded arms, her eyes watering.

"Did I do something?"

"No, of course not, Sakura."

The pink haired girl wanted to be helpful, "Look, we haven't known each other for long...but you can tell me about whatever is bothering you, Hokuto. I don't mind!"

"Thank you." She took a breath and calmed herself, "It's Mizura. He's been at Sumaru's throat ever since I began dating him."

"Oh! You're Sumaru's special someone!" Sakura grinned, lifting her pinky to symbolize the attachment.

"Yes, and naturally I should be happy...but Mizura has distanced himself from us. He always pretends to be content around me, and initially he was fine with the change...but it wasn't long before he became angry at Sumaru." Hokuto explained, "It's my fault. I dated Mizura for a short time, but there was nothing special between us. I wanted to be with Sumaru instead and I finally was brave enough to do something about it."

"Oh." Sakura's eyebrows were raised.

"Sumaru understands how Mizura feels betrayed: they're good friends. They were good friends." She continued with a quaking voice, "I feel so awful for doing this. I didn't want anyone to get hurt. I just wish I could have fallen in love with the right person the first time..."

Sakura watched Hokuto from across the table, considering what she had said.

"I won't get into much detail, but...I know exactly what you mean." Sakura replied, "It would have been great if my current boyfriend was the first person I loved...it would have caused a lot less damage."

Hokuto nodded, wiping her eyes.

"If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know." Sakura offered, "But now maybe you can help me."

"What can I do?"

"I need to pick your brain; get your opinion on a few things..."

"Of course."

"Can you tell me what you think it is that sets you apart from the children who were harmed?" Sakura asked, "Why do you and Sumaru resist the Star's effects? Could there be a safeguard in part of your routine, a genetic predisposition, your diet..."

"Natsuhi-sama did advise us to train a certain way, although she has forbade other students from training with the Star as a safety measure." Hokuto thought about it, "I suppose the only thing that really protects us is deep meditation. Many children who were hurt, in my opinion, struggled with that skill, or just could not achieve a spiritual peace."

"Why is that?"

"They were afraid. I know it sounds ridiculous, but they were more focused on their fear of being hurt by the Star than they were on achieving harmony with all things. It was self-sabotage." Hokuto explained, "Natsuhi-sama said that is what caused the most damage...as if the children's bodies and the Star's energy were rejecting each other."

"I'll have to look into that more, but I have to say that the inner-peace hypothesis is close to the mark." Sakura agreed, "I have heard that meditation and spiritual balance help develop and protect the body's chakra system...but it's not my area of expertise."

By that point she decided that later she would ask Hinata about what she thought of the theory. The Hyuga did have a thorough knowledge of the chakra network and such things. Sakura hoped she could take advantage of such a resource.

"Hm. I want to pick three of the ill children, three of the recovered children, and then compare you, Sumaru and Natsuhi to everyone else. I'll also start some experimental healing and treatment after I take a look at the Star." Sakura hatched her next course of action, "That's tomorrow's agenda. Oh, Hokuto, do you have any literature on the Star that I am allowed to read?"

"Yes, Natsuhi-sama gave permission for that. I'll take you to her library."

Sakura tapped her notes on the table to form a neat stack and then followed Hokuto to the next fountain of knowledge.

---

That evening Sumaru had gathered Kakashi, Sato and Hinata together to show them where they would be staying. The Hoshikage's living quarters was attached to the Administrative Building by its southwest wing: an ornate, expansive log cabin lodge. Several guest rooms were prepared off the corridor that ran adjacent to the infirmary.

Food was brought to them while they waited in a dining room.

Sumaru excused himself before they began their meal, "I was assigned to do a perimeter check tonight and tomorrow, so please forgive me for leaving. I promise I will stop by to check on you when I return."

Kakashi's eye crinkled humorously, "Don't worry, Sumaru. I'll protect this bunch while you're gone."

The boy chuckled on his way out, getting used to the sense of humor that Konoha was known for. It was helping him grow the funny bone he had been lacking for most of his life.

The food was decadent and Hinata reminded her teammate to save some of the spread for Sakura. A surreal moment occurred when, from the corner of her eye, the Hyuga girl noticed Kakashi pulling his mask down shyly to eat. She mulled it over while she helped herself to some stew, 'Of course I have always known what Kakashi-sensei's face looks like since I have seen it with my Byakugan, but I am surprised that he is comfortable enough to eat in front of someone like me,' Then again, Kakashi was probably aware that concealing his identity from her was just plain stupid, 'And Sato-kun has shared many meals with him. What a vulnerable, rare moment!'

The novelty ended after the first minute.

"So how do you think the Jounin of this village compare, Kakashi?" Sato inquired, dotting his plate with hot sauce, "They looked pretty cool to me."

"They are well established and deserving of the rank, even if they are bit xenophobic," Kakashi assessed, "Miketsu is Hokuto's father, and he seemed to be the most relaxed. Nomi took some convincing to make sure I wasn't here to assassinate anyone, and Bai Lu..." Kakashi chuckled, "He reminds me a lot of my Sensei."

Sato raised his eyebrows, "He does? That's some major respect for a guy you just met!"

"Yes, and I am not exaggerating. They've come a long way here in this village," Kakashi went on, "Nearly everyone here feels indebted to Jiraiya-sama and Naruto. It goes against the very nature of the Star Village to reach out and ask for help. Leaf may be the only village they will ever trust, so it's important that we do our best here. This is a delicate relationship."

There was a break in conversation as they ate contentedly. After a time Sato asked, "I wasn't told much, but do you know why Star training is so controversial?"

"Well..." Kakashi could go off of what his Star Jounin-companions had told him, "I have not seen a Star ninja in battle yet, but from what I've seen so far...they possess the most incredible chakra shape manipulation I have ever witnessed. It must be a result from training near that stone."

Hinata nodded in agreement. She was still astounded by their ability to physically manifest chakra.

"Even my teacher, the Fourth Hokage, would not be able to match their shape manipulation...and he was very skilled." Kakashi concluded, "The stone they call 'The star' is an unstable source of chakra, so I doubt that anyone who mastered Star training did so unscathed."

"Where did the stone come from?" Sato wondered.

Kakashi shrugged. He was more or less clueless.

"Sakura-chan should know more than any of us." Hinata reminded them.

They paused again to eat before Kakashi added, "Sumaru, as you two might be able to tell...is the strongest shinobi in this village."

Sato sputtered his tea, "What? Are you serious? His mom is the Hoshikage, you know!"

"I know, and Natsuhi-sama certainly is strong, but she was the clear choice as a leader." His uncle replied, "Sumaru is a bit young yet for such responsibility."

"I want to put that appraisal of yours to the test!" Sato was grinning, "I'll challenge Sumaru tomorrow and get him to spar with me!"

"I advise you not to create tension, but," Kakashi relented, "It would be good to show him what Leaf's reputation is based on."

The door slid open and Sakura entered, trudging tiredly across the tatami mats. Her team greeted her with enthusiasm and she made a small sound of salutations. She plopped down beside Sato at the table and reached weakly for a portion of food.

Kakashi smiled. His mask was back in place since he had finished eating. "Sakura, it's good to have you back. What are your findings so far?" He asked.

Ambition and scientific exhilaration ignited in her eyes and she perked up, "Oh, it's a big deal. There are tons of variables to consider...but if I were to describe it succinctly," She looked her teacher in the eye, "That Star is a volatile and ancient source of chakra...and I mean OLD."

"Did you see it?" Sato asked.

"Yeah. Hokuto took me to where it's hidden and I examined it quickly before I left." Sakura added, "The chakra that comes from the Star permanently absorbs into and increases the chakra capacity of people like Sumaru."

Hinata finished eating just so she could hear the wild tale her friend was unfolding.

"The people who can endure training do so because of deep meditation. Achieving peace helps shield a trainee from the star's harmful effects. Some documents I read also confirmed what I noticed while checking the children; some shinobi who went far with star training or completed it had their appearances changed as a result. As for the records of the history of the star...I am kind of confused. I need to ask Tsunade-sama some questions."

"What has you confused?" Kakashi asked, "Maybe I can be of some help."

"It's probably going to blow your mind too, Kakashi-sensei."

"Try me." He was undaunted.

Sakura sighed before she began, "Natsuhi was telling me an old story about the star falling from the sky in ancient times...times before people used chakra or Ninjutsu. She said that she believes it is a piece of the World Tree that existed then."

"What is that?" Sato was lost.

"Some people think it was the original source of chakra; all of the chakra in the world." She shook her head, "But it's just a legend! What I read started out factual...but then it sounded more like mythology."

"So the World Tree was the first source of chakra?" Hinata was putting it together, "Then humans must have found a way to tap into it."

"Bingo." Sakura nodded, "But the tree doesn't exist anymore, well, not in its original form anyway. I was reading that the first person to tap into it was a princess who wanted to stop wars that were ravaging the land. She succeeded, but the husk of the tree turned into..." Sakura hesitated, "It said it became a demon and that it attempted to take its chakra back."

Kakashi stared at her dumbly. Her friends remained silent in anticipation.

"The big-ass tome I went through in that library, which had very little to do with these sick kids...it has to do with ALL of us." Sakura confessed, "It's the big answer to the riddle of our origin. That demon failed to restore itself. Its chakra is inside of US, passed down from our ancestors. And what isn't stored as chakra inside of us exists as the-"

"The Tailed Beasts." Kakashi finally caught up.

She nodded, "Yes. Natsuhi was telling me about this. The princess' son, Hagoromo, became the first sage when he sealed that demon into his body. He broke it into nine parts before he died, into lesser, sentient beings made of chakra." Sakura poured herself some tea, "But what I'm getting at is that the World Tree had fragments that broke off and scattered before the princess reached it, and this star just happens to be one of them. It predates Biju-chakra. It predates human chakra. It's why so many people are harmed by it, because it is in its rawest form."

"Oh my god, slow down!" Sato held his head, "Princess? Sage? Tailed Beasts? Is this like the food-chain of chakra, basically?"

"Yeah, you can definitely call it that." Sakura said, unabashed. She sipped her tea.

Hinata was silent. Something like alarm and realization was swelling in her chest. 'I thought this seemed familiar...I didn't understand why I thought I recognized physical, radiant chakra, but now...' She wondered about how her own chakra's composition changed when she used the Misago Byakugan, 'I've seen this somewhere else as well...'

"So...you didn't completely blow my mind." Kakashi announced, "But I have to admit that is pretty close to the craziest thing I have ever heard."

Sakura was busy piling food into her mouth. She was sick of explaining. She was starving.

"You told me about that once, Kakashi, about Tailed Beasts." Sato pointed out, "You said our village has one jinchuriki."

"That's correct, and revealing the identity of that person is forbidden." Kakashi reminded him.

"You told Tama and I that it's a person we know and like."

Hinata's hands fisted nervously in her lap.

Kakashi sighed, "Give it a rest. I'm not going to break the Third's Law just for this occasion."

Sakura had spent a few minutes enjoying her food. She began to participate in conversation again.

"If jinchuriki and Tailed Beasts definitely exist, then I have a feeling that this story is true. There wouldn't be any other explanation for how Ninjutsu and chakra came to be." Sakura decided, "For now I am accepting this as the truth."

Kakashi folded his arms while he thought about it, "I think I'll accept it as the truth too. No one has questioned where Tailed Beasts came from and ever gotten an answer until now."

"It just goes to show what a tremendous responsibility and burden it is to be a jinchuriki." Sakura reflected on the idea, "That is power that was only filtered by the sage Hagoromo...so it's really volatile and potent. It'll take a toll on the human body not unlike what the kids here have experienced. You have to be really brave to serve your village like that."

"So you aren't afraid of jinchuriki, Sakura? Even if they can potentially release a Tailed Beast in the village?" Kakashi wondered.

She looked thoughtful, "Well, no. I have a better idea of where they come from now. It's a shame that it has to be a militarized operation when we could probably learn so much from a jinchuriki."

Kakashi stared at her for a moment and then he began laughing.

Sato and Hinata looked at him with bewildered expressions.

Sakura scowled, "What? Was that not cowardly enough of an answer?"

He shook his head, chuckling, "No! No...you're just making me proud."

She blushed, continuing to frown, and then gulped her tea.

"Sakura-chan is right. There is a lot we can learn." Hinata agreed, "I think that many people hold onto their fear of when the village was attacked long ago. Was it the jinchuriki's fault?"

"No. It hardly ever is. Jinchuriki in Leaf have an incredibly good track record." Kakashi told her, "While I can't disclose classified information, I will say this...it was an accident. The previous jinchuriki died unnecessarily that night."

The youngsters gasped, disturbed by the news.

"Many people in our village will feel resentful towards jinchuriki and the Nine-Tailed Fox because of the losses we suffered. They have probably never considered the loss a jinchuriki experiences, or the sacrifices they must make." Kakashi's tone became serious, "They fight and defend their home just as we do. They laugh and cry...but they suffer so much more."

Hinata was fighting back tears.

"Unfortunately, they are widely misunderstood, but I am glad you three have a fresh perspective on the matter." Kakashi ended it on an upbeat note.

"Well..." Sakura finished chewing a piece of tempura, "I stand by what I said. My concern is if these kids can be healed after being exposed to raw, prehistoric chakra. I am confident they can, but I need to test some treatment methods and do comparisons before we go anywhere. I will need Tsunade-sama's help when we return to Leaf."

"How much time do you think you'll need?" Her teacher asked.

"I'll examine a few more children in the morning and then run the tests. With any luck they should be fit for travel in a day or two."

"Good! I've got time to challenge Sumaru." Sato was pleased.

Satisfied with the dinner and the chakra-origin theory, the group split up and retired to separate rooms. Sato and his uncle went to their room, and next door Hinata and Sakura settled down.

Sakura was rummaging around in her travel bag when Hinata told her, "I want to help you with those tests, Sakura-chan."

Sakura smiled, "Thanks! I was going to ask you to come with me tomorrow anyway. You know more about the chakra circulatory system than I do, and I was hoping you could check for damage."

"Of course I will."

They changed into night clothes, brushed their teeth and chatted while they wound down and shut the light off. Hinata brushed her hair before setting up a futon beside Sakura's bedroll.

"I think Sumaru and Hokuto are cute together." Hinata had been thinking about the couple.

"Yeah they are, but it's not all hearts and roses." Sakura said while getting cozy on her futon, "She told me that her relationship with Sumaru hurt their teammate Mizura, her previous boyfriend. I know what she's going through."

Hinata hesitated, "I think I know what you referring to, and please excuse me if it is impolite to ask, but...were you ever truly invested in Sasuke that way?"

"No, I can't say it was official. But we started getting close...he was spouting nonsense about getting married and being together." Sakura trailed off, "Honestly...it made me nervous. I was starting to feel out of control when he got like that. He demanded a lot more than I was prepared to give."

Hinata nodded in understanding.

"Getting close to Sasuke really caused a lot more damage in the long run, especially now that I'm happy with Gaara." Sakura slapped herself in the face with her blanket, "I'm an idiot. I always liked Gaara and valued our friendship. When I faltered and began to doubt he would ever care about me the same way...I looked elsewhere. He saved my life and talked sense into me. He did love me, Hinata! How could I not have seen it?"

Her friend giggled happily, "Sometimes it is hard to tell!"

"Now that we have a loving relationship I hardly ever get to see him," The pink haired girl lamented, "I suppose that's a fitting outcome."

Hinata rolled onto her stomach and propped her chin on her hands, "Don't worry, Sakura-chan. He'll come home to you. I know that is what his heart really wants."

"He won't." Sakura replied, restraining tears, "I know he won't."

The dark haired girl was troubled by the assertion, "Why do you say that?"

Sakura remained silent, holding in her grief. It had been a burden to keep Gaara's inevitable promotion to herself. She wrestled with it most days; proud that he would become a village leader at a young age, and distraught that he would be apart from her indefinitely. It was hard to speak about it. It was as if confirming it out loud would be the final nail in the coffin when it came to being on her own in Leaf.

Hinata looked at her with compassionate eyes, "Sakura, what happened? What's wrong?"

The Hokage's apprentice wiped her eyes, trying to get a grip, "I'm alright. Listen," She met her friend's gaze, "You can't repeat what I'm about to tell you."

"I promise I won't."

"Gaara has been selected to become the Fifth Kazekage." Sakura at last got it off her chest, "That's what I've been having a hard time with, Hinata."

Hinata was understandably shocked by the announcement.

"I can't help but wonder if he will still want to be close to me when he has the responsibilities of a village leader. Will I be worth his time?"

"Of course you will! He loves you!" Hinata insisted, "Naruto will be Hokage one day and I have to believe that he won't push me aside when it happens!"

Sakura was still horribly dour. She did not respond well to Hinata's faithful optimism.

"If he comes back." Sakura replied dryly, "Even if he makes it far enough to become Hokage, Tsunade-sama told me that he has become one of the Akatsuki's targets. She didn't tell me why or what they are doing, but that organization is bad news from what she told me."

Hinata's heart sunk. The uneasy thoughts came back like a rushing wave, 'Will he come back?' His safety was not guaranteed and neither was his love for her. He could come back changed. He could disappear. What would be the point of love if distance and time wedged itself between two people?

"No." Sakura spoke up again, "I'm sorry, Hinata. I was wrong to say that. My Dad is always saying that when you love someone, anything that comes between you is usually an illusion. The one you love rubs off on you and you carry pieces of that person with you..." She looked at her friend, "Naruto has stayed with you; it's obvious just looking at you. You're courageous and you look out for others...and you're not as shy as I remember you were!"

Hinata exhaled, letting the tension go. That made more sense.

She and Naruto had changed each other. It seemed to her that a large part of the love she felt for him had to do with how they had grown and changed alongside each other.

"Besides, Naruto will return for you no matter the danger. That's just how he is." Sakura added, "I'm sorry if I made you worry."

"It's alright. You had a lot on your mind."

"Yes, but it's quite insecure of me to think Gaara and I are doomed just because he has an important role in Sand." Sakura reflected, "I need to stop being melodramatic and just be happy for him."

"Don't beat yourself up. It won't be easy, but try to think of what it'll be like..." Hinata smiled, "Think of what a date with the Kazekage will be like!"

Sakura tried to hide her grin, "Yeah! That probably will make up for all the worries I have now!"

They laughed together before Hinata encouraged rest, "Let's get some sleep."

As silence settled in the room Sakura was still not ready to let her mind rest. She was mentally berating herself for attacking Hinata's relationship, which resembled her own at the time. Even if she had apologized before it still didn't feel like it was enough. 'And she just shrugged it off. I did try to do some damage control, but when I think about it...' The pink haired girl allowed her mind to wander to the future, 'If Gaara and I weren't together anymore the world would not stop turning. I have a lot going for me and great friends...there's so much I should be thankful for.'

After a short time Sakura rolled over to look at her friend, "Hey."

Hinata took a peek at the girl who addressed her.

"If I lost what I cared about...if either of us did...it's good to know that I still have you as my friend." Sakura announced sincerely, "When I was little you were the only person who didn't tease me, Hinata. You have always been kind. You were always a good friend. If I lost everything, I'd be okay knowing that I still had you to turn to."

"Thank you," Hinata squeaked, "The same is true of you, Sakura-chan. You accepted me the way I was when we first met. Even my own family could not do that, and I hope you know that I have always appreciated it."

"I sure do. Naruto, Haku and Gaara accepted you too, when we all met." Sakura pointed out, "We needed each other. When life sucked and treated us unfairly, it was great to know we could be ourselves when we were together."

Hinata agreed, "Even if I didn't realize it then...I was very lucky."

"Me too. So the next time I get blue and miserable just tune me out. The real me knows how good I have it." Sakura told her friend, settling back down to sleep, "I don't want to complain anymore."

"I will, Sakura-chan." Hinata yawned, "Ah...goodnight."

"Goodnight, best bud."

---

In the morning the two girls were energized and optimistic. They capitalized on their good moods by beginning the examinations early. Two of the children Sakura had wanted to check were still sleeping, so they had to be gently awakened. Sakura got her routine health checks out of the way before getting into serious observations.

She asked Hinata to look for damage within the chakra circulatory system. The three children lined up patiently on a clinic bed and gawked when the pretty dark-haired girl used her Misago Byakugan. Sakura assured them that they could relax.

Hinata had noted that many of her new abilities gave her deeper insight into the systems of other people. She recalled that while in the Land of Waves she had tried to use a technique that had ended up knocking her unconscious. She concluded that her target, which had been unclear at the time, was too far away. Hinata had hastily chosen Naruto as her point of contact, but the exertion had been too great. 'He was far away in another country, but I did reach him briefly...' She did not want to risk injury by trying to seek him again.

After carefully attempting to "overlay," as she had come to call it, again weeks later in the company of her little sister, Hinata finally realized what the outcome of the new jutsu was. 'It overlaps my consciousness and chakra with another person. When I did it with Hanabi it was not uncomfortable or dangerous...but she did say she felt violated. The other person is absolutely aware of my presence but cannot reject it.' It was a strange ability, she conceded. She was working on discovering new uses for it.

Currently, it would be an incredibly effective way to examine the children's bodies for injury or damage. She checked the children one at a time, briefly overlaying with them, and ignored the shrieks of alarm and confusion that came with the odd sensation.

Sakura fought back a chuckle while she reassured the children they were not being harmed. 'Oh man this is priceless...these poor kids weren't expecting this early in the morning! I don't know how Hinata does it, but if she can get me answers I am going to make her my official medical-sidekick!'

"Sakura," Hinata had finished her observations after a minute or so, "Some cells have become abnormal. A few key points in the chakra system have been weakened," Hinata pointed out the areas, "This damage seems reversible, because I have seen Jyukken cause similar injuries. I think they can be healed completely with enough time, but some of the physical changes to their bodies may remain."

Sakura double-checked the spots Hinata had indicated to her, took notes and then thanked her friend for her assistance. When Hokuto arrived and asked if she was needed, Hinata asked if she could inspect her as well for comparison. Sakura excused herself to get a breath of fresh air outside.

'I trust Hinata's judgment. She definitely has seen her share of these kinds of injuries. But I still have more questions...'Sakura thought to herself as she stopped on a deserted patio, 'Maybe I can get some of them answered now.'

Sakura bit her thumb and drew blood. She focused her chakra, drawing on a good portion of it, and made hand seals for a summoning. She pressed her hand flat on the cobblestone patio and smiled to herself when a summoning matrix appeared. A tiny version of Katsuyu arrived with a puff of smoke.

"Hello Sakura!"

Sakura had kept her summoning ability to herself primarily because Tsunade had asked her to, and secondly because she could only muster enough chakra for a pitiful summoning of Tsunade's slug companion. Her new technique made her feel a mix of pride and embarrassment all at once. She had also been bestowed with her master's Yin Seal, which would need several years of charging before Sakura could do anything significant with it. The chakra seal was invisible on her forehead while it was not in use, and it covertly absorbed chakra bit by bit as she went about her day.

Sakura likened herself to a very young and very wimpy version of Tsunade, for now.

"Hi Katsuyu-sama! I need to ask you about a few things, if you have the time."

"I would be happy to answer." The slug got comfortable in the palm of the girl's hand.

Sakura filled her in, as best she could, about the star-chakra situation. She then proceeded with her questions.

"I have a good idea of how people can protect themselves from the star's chakra, but can you tell me if you know anything about ancient, wild sources of chakra?" Sakura asked, "Are some people born with a better defense against it? Or is everyone equally vulnerable without meditation?"

"Hm..." The slug queen deliberated on it, "In my opinion, this star is indeed a part of the original source of all chakra. It can be dangerous to anyone, but I must say it is not the first incident of its kind. Among shinobi-affiliated creatures like me, we have a term for natural chakra that is taken in and utilized by ninja: Senjutsu."

"Senjutsu."

"Yes, chakra found in nature has not been refined by the human body." Katsuyu explained, "When a shinobi is experienced with Senjutsu, they are able to absorb natural chakra and blend it with their own, refining it and making it usable. Deep meditation does indeed make it possible, and this kind of training can maim or petrify a person who is not accustomed to natural chakra. It is difficult, to say the least. Shinobi who enter an empowered state in this way often call it Sage Mode. Jiraiya-sama is able to, for example."

"Huh." Sakura was enthralled by the information, "Will Sumaru and those who complete Dragon Star Training be able to do that?"

"I don't know. The only instances I have seen shinobi learn about and enter Sage Mode is when they have been trained by the Toad Elders of Mount Myoboku or the Snake Elders of Ryuchi Cave." Katsuyu admitted, "This could be a new method learned without the guidance of elders and Senjutsu experts."

"In that case, I'll track their progress and get back to you on that." Sakura smiled, "How does that sound?"

"That would be fantastic!" Katsuyu agreed, "I hope it continues to go well! Please don't hesitate if there is anything else you want to ask me, Sakura."

"Thanks, Katsuyu-sama."

The slug reverse-summoned the small replica of herself back to her home in the forest. Sakura then returned to the infirmary, where she found Hokuto and Hinata kibitzing with one another. Hinata had nothing to report other than Hokuto had no visible damage at all. Hokuto described how she had manageable fatigue on bad training days, and she was certain that Sumaru would say the same. Sakura thanked them for their help.

Before she could express her desire to take a break for lunch, Sakura watched Kakashi enter with Sato tucked under his arm. Sato had been beaten black and blue, "Kakashi, I swear I'm fine, put me down!" And was bad-mouthing his uncle the whole way.

Kakashi gently set him down and then turned to his student, "Sakura, please have a look at him."

"I said I was okay!" Sato barked.

Kakashi shook his head, "You're not. Sumaru didn't hold back. You're lucky he wasn't fighting you seriously."

Hokuto frowned, "Sumaru did that to you?"

The young Hatake tried to make light of it, "I challenged him to spar with me and...it got a little intense. But after what I did to him he'll be licking his wounds for a while too!"

"You got the worst of it," Kakashi insisted, "He walked away without limping, at least."

Sakura sighed and pulled the complaining boy further into the clinic, seating him on an empty bed. 'Back to business as usual...'

---

The day went on peacefully. Sato was restored to his un-bruised state and refrained from challenging any other Star ninja. Sakura examined Sumaru for injuries as her final step, but found nothing noteworthy. He was in the peak of health, as far as she could tell, 'He's tough, alright. And that green hair is kind of pretty...'

She took one final crack at the literature in Natsuhi's library before concluding her examinations, 'Tsunade and I can heal these kids, without a doubt. It will take some time, considering how many of them are coming to Leaf...but we are bound for success. And I can say I know a lot more after studying here than I did when I arrived. I bet it's going to help in the future!' Chakra origin, jinchuriki, Senjutsu: it was all a new part of her academic and medical vocabulary. She would make the most of it.

That afternoon both Sumaru and Hokuto, after getting the go-ahead from Sakura, began preparing travel supplies for the children. Kakashi decided they should leave in the morning in order to give every family adequate time to part with the youngsters.

Sakura was worn out from her running around and knowledge-building. That night, while having a conversation with Hinata, she fell asleep in the middle of a sentence. At the crack of dawn the next day the team was assembled, and Hokuto and Sumaru were herding sleepy children into a courtyard in front of the Administrative Building.

Sumaru reviewed the flight plan with Kakashi and Sato. He had taken into consideration Sakura's warning, 'If any of these kids get too worn out, we may have to cut some flights short. I doubt anyone here will be able to handle a non-stop trip from Star to Leaf without the Jetstream. Let's take it easy.'

"We won't be able to use an air current to speed up our journey, so I suggest we take the same route my mother used to get to the Fire Country." Sumaru informed them, "Hokuto and I managed it in a day and a half, but I think these children will need more respite than we did. It could take a little over two days if everything is in our favor: wind, storm systems, pit-stops and all of that…"

"That is a very conservative estimate." Kakashi told him, and then looked to Sato, "What do you think, Sato-kun?"

He scratched his chin in thought, "Sumaru is probably right. The owls I picked should go pretty fast, but we won't know an ETA until we set a pace."

His uncle nodded to him and Sato then moved to the center of the courtyard. He needed a considerable amount of chakra for the summoning, but Sato, like most members of his family, had been blessed with plentiful reserves. He summoned six enormous birds that all varied in appearance and coloration. The owls showboated front of the children, impressing them with fluffed feathers and twisting heads. Many of the trainees gasped at the sight of them.

"Okay," Sato gestured to the owls to make arrangements, "I count…nineteen kids…so let's do five on Mokumo's back," He pointed to a bulky horned-owl, "And five each on Washika and Kugoro," A speckled eagle-owl and gray hawk-owl respectively, "Then Chitose will take the last four." He pointed to a pretty snow owl who nodded her head.

Sato then took a look at his team, "That leaves Kutaiku to take Hinata and Sakura, and Gyorai will take Kakashi and I." His veteran and most trusted owl summons met his gaze confidently.

With the flight arrangements decided, the shinobi chaperones began securing their supplies and food to the braided rope harnesses. Sumaru and Hokuto helped divide up the children into the appropriate groups and introduced them to the towering birds, "Now don't be shy, they're friendly."

After one last goodbye to parents and family, the children were bundled onto each owl. Mizura struggled to get a foothold while climbing onto Kugoro's back. Sumaru reached over to assist him, but the boy swatted his hand away bitterly. Sumaru recoiled and watched in silence as the stubborn, sickly boy pulled himself up. Another sick trainee scolded Mizura after seeing the bad behavior, "Sumaru is your friend! Be nice to him!"

Mizura said nothing.

Sato strolled around to see how everyone was doing and made sure to give the children the same instructions he had given his teammates. After making certain all were aboard and prepared, he leapt and took the spot beside Kakashi, motioning for Sumaru to take the lead.

In beautiful synchronization, Hokuto and Sumaru manifested star-chakra wings and took off.

Kakashi was more prepared for the take off the second time around. He braced himself as they ascended and was relieved when they leveled off much sooner than they had on the previous flight. He glanced over to Sato who appeared to be completely relaxed.

"My, my, how you've changed. It scares me a little when I think about it..." Kakashi reminisced, "You used to be so small. Your mother could lift you up with one arm when you were a kid. Now that I see how you're catching up to my height...it's a bit overwhelming."

Sato laughed, "Kakashi, who knew you were sentimental?"

"Well I am, I just don't talk about it that much." Kakashi looked ahead, "Who wants to hear all of that?"

"I don't mind it."

His uncle chuckled, "Nostalgia seems to correlate with age; even I can't escape it. When I was young I didn't have much time to reflect...because my life hadn't begun yet."

"Huh. That is a good point." Sato agreed.

"It's going to happen to you too, you can count on it." Kakashi warned him, "I guess this all started happening after Rin left the village. Then my Sensei passed away...time just forges onward, and I wonder if I've participated enough? About the time I started to have those doubts was when Sandaime-sama asked me to be a Jounin-sensei."

Sato patted his back, "It was a good decision. Like Mom was always saying, we have to stay connected to people; that's what a life of meaning is all about." He added, "And when I get as tall as you I'll start wearing a mask too so I can fake people out."

They laughed together and Sumaru swooped past them, giving them a small smile as he went by. The Star shinobi was checking on the children in-flight. The owls banked together as they circumvented the worn face of a mountain. When they leveled out once again their conversation continued.

"You've grown and so have your friends. Sakura, Hinata, Kiba, and the rest of your age group...I would call you all competent shinobi now. Some of you are even worthy of Jounin rank." Kakashi wagered, "Kiba threw me for a loop when he took on Sasuke and those Cloud ninja a short time ago. I probably couldn't have done it any better myself."

"Yeah, I heard about that! It was a big deal..." Sato trailed off, thinking of how he and Kiba were not on good terms, "So...name some names!" He prodded, "Who would you like to see make Jounin?"

"Hm." Kakashi thought about it, "You're going to take this personally. It's better if I don't comment on it."

"I won't! I won't whine or disagree or anything," The boy grinned, "I'll just hear you out."

"Well, my guess is in about a year or so you'll see Shikamaru getting promoted, but he probably will dislike taking the Jounin trials." Kakashi assumed, "He may do it, or he may be just as comfortable not doing it. Either way, Tsunade has come to depend on him."

Sato nodded, "That's kind of an obvious pick."

"You and Shino are on your way, but you need to push yourselves harder." His uncle told him, "Maybe in the next few years you'll make it. I think Kiba may be just slightly ahead of you."

Sato pursed his lips, holding in his desire to grouse, 'He's just speaking highly of Kiba because of his success on that mission, and because Kiba's his student! I could salvage a mission and save lives if I had to! If there was an opportunity!'

"You didn't like that one, did you?" Kakashi's eye crinkled in delight, "That's what I think. Now...as for those of you who could make it sooner than that..."

Sato was surprised, "Sooner?"

"Yes, as in, if push comes to shove; as in, if they receive enough recommendations that the Hokage must address them," Kakashi clarified, "Besides Shikamaru...Neji will be ready soon. I've been speaking to Gai and I've been told he is a true contender. But in my opinion, our kunoichi are the ones who are advancing the most rapidly."

By then Sato was not on the same page anymore.

"Your teammate: Hinata. She can go for a trial whenever she wants. Tsunade has her eye on that girl." Kakashi told him, "She keeps it to herself, but Hinata could run circles around us if she wanted to. She is thoughtful in battle and with a little effort and training...I wouldn't be shocked if she was chosen first."

Sato gawked, "Sunshine? Are you serious?"

"Her advanced Kekkei Genkai alone can probably do us all in."

"Yeah but she's so...she's just so nice." Sato pointed out, "I don't even know if that's what she wants."

"That is true. She may not be interested in serving as a Jounin, but time will tell. As for Sakura, well, Hokage-sama is pouring all of her knowledge into her because it's a wise investment." Kakashi concluded, "She is a safe bet as well, although she'll need more time. I'm confident she'll make it and I will recommend her myself if I must."

"Oh man...some of that I expected and some I didn't." Sato admitted, "So I can quote you on that?"

"I'd rather you keep this to yourself. I don't want any people who I didn't mention to feel inadequate because, honestly, I haven't seen the performance of every shinobi in your graduating class. Others could be well-equipped too."

His nephew nodded, "Sure."

"It is a pleasure to see you all mature and improve," Kakashi told him, "But I feel like I didn't have much to do with it. I haven't been a good teacher and I..." He hesitated, "I know many things that have gone wrong were my responsibilities."

"Stop it already! You need to stop blaming yourself and lighten up." Sato told him, "You're a more involved sensei now. Being frustrated with what you did wrong won't change things. Sasuke's defection probably had very little to do with you anyway."

"I still wonder if I could've stopped him."

Sato gave him a stern look, "Quit wondering that...because everyone has wondered that. There's no point in it anymore."

A herd of deer could be seen on a hilltop, and as they soared over them the animals scattered in fright.

"We're fine and we owe you a lot. You stepped up training me and your team, and it paid off," Sato reminded him, "Tama is gifted and setting a new standard for Taijutsu specialists! Sakura is just as smart as Shikamaru but more motivated...andshe's the Hokage's apprentice," His comment elicited a chuckle from his uncle, "And Kiba? He can lead missions with subordinates now. Even I'm doing well! Kurenai-sensei said she was confident I could outdo her in Ninjutsu and Taijutsu already...but I'm not sure if she was joking."

"I don't think she would. I agree that you have become a very capable shinobi." Kakashi assured him.

"Then go ahead and take a little credit for it." The boy smiled, "You taught me more than I probably deserved to learn, and Anyo whipped my sword skills into shape."

"He's your Grass ninja friend, right?"

"Yeah," Sato verified, "He's been showing me how taking things a bit more seriously helps."

"And I am living proof of why you don't want to overdo taking things seriously." Kakashi observed.

"You've gotten better."

---

Sumaru and Hokuto kept the group gliding at lower altitudes, unwilling to risk the children's safety. So far, none of the Star trainees had complained at all. Many were enjoying the flight and encouraging Hokuto to do tricks and rolls in flight. She obliged them occasionally.

They navigated valleys and mountain peaks for a few hours before the first pit-stop. Several children relieved themselves before they continued on for a few more hours, and then stopped in a glade as the sun was setting. The chaperones dug two large fire-pits and Sato showed the children how to start a campfire. Sakura and Hinata went from child to child for brief follow-ups while Kakashi summoned two of his ninken to go hunting for game.

Once they had settled down for the night around the two roaring fires, Sumaru kept the children's attention with old legends. Towering trees surrounded the clearing, and the six owls Sato had summoned made themselves comfortable in the tall branches. They left to go hunting in shifts, letting a few of their peers remain to watch over their human charges. They too began to enjoy Sumaru's stories as they unfolded.

Kakashi returned after a time with several rabbits to roast over a spit. Many of the children had already tucked into the provisional meals they had packed with them, but sniffed curiously as the older shinobi prepared dinner.

Hokuto had tapped Mizura on the shoulder and quietly asked, "May I talk to you for a second, Mizura?"

He looked surprised, "Of course."

They stood and put some space between them and the campout. Hokuto folded her arms and took a deep breath.

"I want you to end your bad-blood with Sumaru." She said boldly, "Everyone can see what you've been doing. It's time to stop."

He frowned, "Isn't it up to me whether I want to be his friend or not?"

"It is, but he has shown you nothing but kindness...he's been beating himself up because he understands how you feel!" Hokuto retorted, "If you ought to be angry at anyone it should be me, and yet you haven't said one harsh word to me yet."

"You know I couldn't do that." Mizura told her, "I still care about you."

"Then why can't you treat Sumaru with that same compassion?" She asked, "You care about him too! You've been such good friends for years!"

He remained silent, letting his gaze settle on the ground. When it got down to it, he did feel bad about how he was treating his friend, but Mizura was not ready to surmount his heartache.

"Stop this nonsense. You and I both know that you didn't care for me that much." The girl's voice was sharp, "What really bothers you is that Sumaru did, and he was willing to damage his friendship with you in order to get close to me."

Mizura looked at her as if he'd been slapped. He could not deny her accusations.

She shook her head, "I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you that."

"I understand and...I'm sorry." He told her, "I truly am sorry, Hokuto."

"Save your apology for Sumaru." The kunoichi told him. She then turned on her heel and returned to the campfire.

---

After entertaining the children for a while Sumaru encouraged them to sleep. He took a seat next to the hungry Leaf shinobi who were speaking in-between mouthfuls of meat. Kakashi's group had finished devouring the rabbits he had roasted and they all relaxed with full bellies. Sumaru picked at a few scraps still on the spit when they had invited him to help himself.

Sato had gotten Hinata involved in the conversation and prodded as to what was going on in the ever-soft-spoken girl's life. With Sakura's nod of interest the shy girl sighed and answered her teammate's questions.

"I feel as though things have much improved with my clan." She began, "I feel like I belong now."

"Even though they made Neji the heir to the Hyuga clan?" Sato asked, "That doesn't bother you?"

Her smile was small when she spoke, "Honestly...I prefer to not have that responsibility. I know I could do it if I had to and I am still second-in-line..." She chuckled, "But Neji-niisan handles the pressure better than I do."

"Pft!" Sato laughed at the thought. Sakura did as well.

Kakashi got in on it and asked, "So how are things with your father, in the wake of this change?"

"Quite good. He seems much happier, and Father is proud of both Neji-niisan and I." Hinata reported, "He was relieved that it worked out, I think. He had felt worried for so long that our clan would lack strong leadership in the future."

"Yes, he doesn't have to be concerned about that anymore." Kakashi agreed.

"Even Hanabi spends more time with me." Hinata mused, "I think now that my sister respects me, she thought it was worth improving her relationship with me."

"It's a shame that she didn't want to associate with you before that." Sakura pointed out, "She's a bit stuck-up, if you ask me."

"That's just how she is." Hinata was resigned to the facts, "I don't mind."

"And what about your evolved Byakugan?" Sakura asked, "Is that a hot-ticket issue in your clan?"

"My Father does have to frequently curb the requests of our elders. They are very curious about what abilities the Misago Byakugan will yield, but I am still learning about it myself." Hinata admitted, "Father said the elders believe that the Hyuga clan will experience evolution in their blood limit the way that the Uchiha clan has."

"It is said that the Doujutsu of the Uchiha and Hyuga are descended of ancient Doujutsu." Kakashi told them, "There are Visual Techniques that occur even outside of clans like yours; with people who have heritage that goes back to that ancestral line."

"The line of the Otsutsuki." Sakura added.

Her friends turned to look at her, puzzled.

"It was in that book!" Sakura clarified, "It said that the Sage of the Six Paths and his family possessed that gift. His descendants passed along many of his traits. I mean, I guess that's the truth if it corresponds to everything else-?"

"So it is." Kakashi guessed.

"That does make sense." Hinata agreed, "I will take my time developing this power. Most of it has come naturally so far."

Kakashi was pleased to hear it. He had earlier wondered if the Hyuga clan had been obsessing over its princess' new gift, but apparently her father was shielding her from most of the scrutiny. Hiashi was without a doubt a stern man, Kakashi knew, but he was a father and widower with two daughters. He had prevented Hinata from becoming a plaything to Hyuga elders.

The deep dark of the wilderness settled upon them as the night wore on. Kakashi asked his subordinates to sleep and volunteered to take the first watch. Sumaru and Sato volunteered to take the second and third watches, respectively.

Hokuto and Sumaru settled near some slumbering children near the campfire and spoke to each other quietly. Sato settled on the far side of the camp, and Hinata and Sakura made themselves comfortable near another bundle of children.

"Oh man..." Sakura stretched on her bedroll tiredly, "When we get home you and I need some girl-time. This has been a tough trip. Ino and Tama will know just how to help us unwind..."

"Yes! May we invite Tenten-neesan too?" Hinata squeaked.

Sakura smiled at her, "Sure. So Tenten has become like a big sister to you, has she?"

"When I was at my lowest towards the end of the Chunin Exam...she was the one who stood up for me. She has ever since!" Hinata told her, "I am so grateful. She really did help Neji-niisan and I."

"Yeah I want to hang out with her too. She's low-maintenance and cool."

Hinata made a soft hum of gratitude. There was a pause as they got comfortable under their blankets.

"Those two..." Sakura's voice was contemplative, "What's up with them?"

Hinata frowned as she thought about it. Her personal opinion on the matter would likely be more honest than what Neji or Tenten would ever fess up to.

"I think they love each other." Hinata speculated, "But neither is the type to admit it."

Sakura laughed quietly, amused, "You're right! That has got to be a pain...bottling all of that tension..."

"Maybe I should help?" Hinata pondered.

"Well...I don't know. Maybe you shouldn't, I mean, if they do care about each other, aren't they likely to recognize that at some point?" Sakura reminded her, "If Gaara, of all people, can do it then certainly they can."

Hinata pursed her lips and nodded sagely, "Yes, absolutely!"

She had faith in them.

"It might be a while before it happens, though..." Sakura had to concede.

The girls stared at the river of stars above as their conversation went on and on, and eventually Hinata wanted Sakura to share more about her life and experiences.

"It's kind of hectic going back and forth between Kakashi-sensei and Tsunade-shishou for training...but I think I'm better off. It's tiring, but it's worth it." Sakura explained, "And it certainly is a whole lot easier than getting along with my parents. I've been trying to earn their trust back since I ran off, but it seems like my mom is always finding something about me she can be critical of."

"I've met your parents once. Your mother was quite nice!" Hinata recalled.

Sakura felt her teeth grind together when she thought of her mother.

"She's really a control freak." Sakura told her friend, "What is your mom like?"

"Oh! She was very easygoing and kind." Hinata was happy to remember the days when her mother was alive, "I would call her a champion of justice and fairness, especially for the Branch Family of my clan. She had many friends...and she was a skilled gardener and artist. Father was never the same after she passed away."

"I'm sorry." Sakura said softly, "You know, Hinata, she sounds kind of like you."

Sakura empathized with her friend. She thought that, as crazy as her own parents were, she could not imagine losing either one of them.

'Many of our friends are parent-less, now that I think about it.' Sakura could not help but notice the trend, 'Naruto, Gaara, Haku, Sato, Neji, Lee, Tenten...I know that they have lived without parents for a long time. They rely on their friends like they would on family, that's why they cherish the strong bonds they have.'

Sakura could not deny that even though both of her parents were alive and well, she too depended on her friends. She let herself drift to sleep contentedly.

---

Shortly after sunrise, Sumaru and Hokuto rallied the children and handed out meals. After the youngsters and their guards were fed they greeted the owls that descended from their perches nearby. Sato had a word with Mokumo and Kugoro, who had suggested placing seven children with each of them since their size would permit it. The owls agreed and the groups were divided up; the two groups of seven and then the remaining five with Washika. This left the snow owl, Chitose, without any passengers.

Chitose stretched her neck and bent close to Kakashi, blinking at him when she spoke, "You are Sato's uncle and the leader of this mission. Please allow me to return you to Leaf, Hatake-san. It is the least I can do."

He was delighted, "Ah, well, I don't see why not."

Kakashi leapt up and properly introduced himself to the friendly owl. Sato had mounted Gyorai with a cheerful, "How you doing, pal?" and Hinata and Sakura returned to Kutaiku, who was also happy to see them. Once Sumaru and Hokuto headed the takeoff, the Leaf chaperones followed.

The children admired the pink-tinted clouds that rolled by as they began the last leg of the journey. Within a few hours they had passed into Earth Country territories, and by noon a strong tailwind blew from the northwest, propelling them faster towards their destination. Sumaru filled in his Leaf shinobi companions that they could capitalize on the favorable wind and possibly arrive earlier than anticipated. As they maintained their course Kakashi was alone with his thoughts.

'Sato, Sakura and Hinata are functioning on-level with Kiba and Shikamaru, from what I can see.' He was pleased that they were doing so well, 'I expect that they can all make Chunin easily by the next exam. My…it feels good to see training pay off…now I understand why Minato-sensei was gushing all of the time when we improved.'

While Kakashi reflected on how his students and their peers were young adults gaining valuable experience, Hokuto and Sumaru flitted from group to group, inquiring if any pit-stops were needed. No one had any complaints and so they pressed on, leaving the Earth Country. By the early afternoon they had cut into the outer edge of the Land of Rain, and it was appropriately overcast and chilly.

Sato, atop Gyorai, came up beside Kakashi and Chitose. He was grinning from ear to ear and shouted to his uncle, "Let's race!"

"No."

"You can't say no!"

"I just did."

"You didn't even try to lose yet," Sato retorted, "Come on Kakashi, let's have some fun!"

His uncle sighed, "I quite enjoy taking it easy and not experiencing a nasty fall from a few thousand feet. This is fun."

Sato's facial expression translated to: What a chicken! He rose and stood on his feet; his silver hair was swept by the wind. Sato then tilted back, as one would to fall on a luxurious feather-bed, and tumbled down into the sky below. Kakashi could hear his laughter. Gyorai made a hoot of annoyance before diving down after him. 'He makes it look easy, but still, I'm not letting a kid goad me into an asinine game.'

Gyorai appeared a short time later with Sato kneeling safely on his back. He looked quite smug, "Come on Kakashi, you couldn't even fall and break your neck if you wanted to. These guys are really good."

The Jounin did not reply and hoped that ignoring Sato would discourage him. 'Well, I already know that didn't work for all of these years...he refuses to be ignored.'

"Hatake-san, I can defeat Gyorai. He is fast, but I am much faster. You ought to accept this challenge." Chitose recommended, "Make a bet and watch Sato-kun lose. We are certain to win!"

"Hm," He thought about it, "Are you sure? I only have a winning-streak against Gai, but I don't want to push my luck..."

"I am sure."

Kakashi warmed up to the idea, "If I'm certain to win...then I shouldn't say no."

Chitose and Gyorai leveled off with each other about a dozen meters above the rest of the groups in flight.

"Ah, so you'll do it?" Sato crowed, "Good! You were starting to look like a big pansy!"

"I'll race you, Sato," Kakashi confirmed, "I'll also bet you an expensive lunch that I'll win. I plan to savor every bite."

"You're on!"

Sakura had looked up and noticed the antics of the Hatake family, 'Sheesh! Those two can get pretty hot-blooded sometimes! As long as they leave the rest of us out of it I don't care.'

"We are in a canyon that will come around in a loop." Gyorai pointed out, "Why not declare the first one to close the circuit the winner?"

They agreed that would do.

"Go!" Sato had pressed himself flat against Gyorai, and Kakashi did the same with Chitose, holding fast to the braid-harness. The man felt his stomach lurch as the white owl took a dive, out-speeding Gyorai as she had promised, and built up tremendous momentum. Kakashi's eyes watered as the wind buffered him. Sato followed close behind. The remaining chaperones maintained a regular pace, staying out of the Hatakes' nonsense.

The craggy Rain territory unfolded before them and the owls took hard turns, banking swiftly at each curve. Chitose flapped so powerfully at times Kakashi felt as if he would be thrown from her back. At the speed they were moving, and so much closer to the ground at that, he wouldn't be surprised if Chitose failed to retrieve him if he fell.

Halfway through the race the clouds overhead released a light drizzle. They ducked under stone archways and banked with reckless speed and abandon. Gyorai made great effort to overtake his competitor, but Chitose was trying very hard to impress her passenger. Chitose pulled ahead with a burst of speed and pulled up over a stone ledge.

A man was standing there.

Kakashi's trained eyes instantly fell on the stranger, taking in details. He looked back as he and the white owl soared over a cloaked man, and it became very clear to Kakashi that the person alone on the outcrop was indeed watching him. Sato raced past him as well, heedless, cheering when he overtook his uncle.

"Slow down!" Kakashi warned the owl summon, "Something's wrong."

"Is it that fellow down there?" She asked softly.

"Yeah…"

Kakashi took another look as Chitose came around, staying high above the strange man. The ginger hair was odd to begin with, but the numerous facial piercings made the stranger downright outlandish. The final detail sunk Kakashi's spirit entirely, 'That cloak…that is what a member of the Akatsuki wears.'

The man stared back at Kakashi, trying to make sense of the Leaf stranger as well.

The tension escalated in a matter of seconds. Kakashi took what he already knew of the Akatsuki, based on the fight with Itachi and Kisame, and averaged it with the S-Class classification of those involved with organization, 'And there are nineteen helpless children coming straight this way...while I have three Genin subordinates and two young Star ninja.'

Kakashi knew his own strength better than anyone, so he hoped he could contend with the unidentified Akatsuki member if it came to it. Fear and determination flooded him. He called to Sato who had also come around, realizing something was amiss, "Get back to the others immediately."

"Kakashi, what's going on?" Sato picked up on his uncle's distress.

"We just found a member of the Akatsuki." Kakashi told him, "Fall back and get everyone to safety. I'm counting on you, Sato. I'll buy you some time."

"What! But what about you-?" Sato met Kakashi's gaze and then relented, "...okay."

He and Gyorai soared back in the direction of the group, obeying Kakashi's order. The man below held his ground, keeping careful watch over Kakashi. The Leaf Jounin felt his blood turn to ice as a second member of Akatsuki appeared, manifesting from thousands of floating slips of paper. It was a woman with blue hair in the same trademark cloak, and she took off like a shot after Sato. It was the first sign of hostility and Kakashi reacted the only way he knew how.

He and Chitose gave chase, intending to stop Sato's pursuer, but the ginger-haired man below raised his hand towards them.

A sudden force was exerted on Chitose, as if gravity denied all capability of lift, exerting down on the owl and her passenger vertically. The scenery rushed by and Kakashi briefly thought of his fear of falling, finding it paled in comparison to the utter helplessness of being pulled from the air. Chitose screeched, terrified, but then had a moment of lucidity. The ground was approaching fast.

"Down Cushion jutsu!" She managed a last-ditch-effort technique, wrapping Kakashi in a ball of feathers.

They struck the ground together with ferocious speed and Chitose's shrill cry was cut short. She had been killed instantly by the blow, but Kakashi was more fortunate. The feather-defense loosened after a moment, providing an exit, and Kakashi replaced himself with a Shadow Clone, sneaking off while a cloud of dust still obscured him. The clone waited as a decoy with Chitose's body.

Kakashi took cover behind a boulder, his heart pounding frantically in his chest. He could not make heads or tails of what had happened, 'He took us down! No hand signs, no weapons, nothing...and Chitose didn't stand a chance.'

The ability was bizarre and Kakashi hoped it was not more complex than it looked: a pull.

He felt far more afraid than he had when Itachi and Kisame had appeared in the village. 'I had Asuma and Kurenai with me then...and Gai arrived in time too. I don't want to risk any of the Genin trying to help me for this fight...I have to do it alone.' But he had virtually no information to go on. The opponent was unknown, 'That headband is from Hidden Rain so Water jutsu are a possibility...' Yet he could not make any conclusions. There was no recognition at all, not from the Bingo Book or warnings on nukenin, 'I just have to assume he ranks up with Itachi and other members of the Akatsuki. I can't take a chance and retreat, or I risk the rest of the group getting attacked.'

That was the other problem, 'That woman is going to follow Sato back to the others, and I don't know if they can deal with her...' He had to hope Sato would be clever enough to escape, or that he and the kunoichi could keep the Akatsuki woman's attention away from the Star trainees.

Kakashi dared peek out from behind the rock, spying the Rain ninja a dozen meters away. He was approaching the Shadow Clone.

"I watched as your group carelessly wandered into these territories." The man spoke with a detached voice, "Star and Leaf are not welcome here."

"I gathered that," The clone's reply was snappy, "In that case we'll be on our way."

"You won't." The man replied, "Konoha so boldly declared the Akatsuki a public enemy and threat. This encounter is mutually hostile. To let you leave and report this is out of the question."

"I can keep a secret." The clone joked.

"You are the Copy Ninja: Kakashi. A shinobi of your reputation could never conceal this." The man in the cloak raised his hand again, "You and your Star companions are liabilities to the organization. It must be dealt with."

The Rain shinobi exerted the force again and it tossed the Shadow Clone like a ragdoll. It came again, pulling down, and slammed the clone into the ground, destroying it.

Once the ruse was exposed Kakashi charged, a kunai ready, hoping to take advantage of his opponent's lowered guard. The Rain ninja scuffled with him. His movements were sure and swift; evidence of years of experience. He blocked Kakashi's slashes without much thought before hopping backwards. The Rain shinobi unleashed another repulsive force that blasted Kakashi back.

The Leaf Jounin was flung across the plateau, skidding and rolling in the gravel before he hit a rock pile. He composed himself, shaking off dizziness, and stood. He had an idea of what his enemy's ability was, 'He can push and pull objects without hand-signs. It seems like he has to time it right...'

Kakashi quailed for a moment when the Akatsuki man charged. The Jounin steeled his nerves and moved to counter, praying that the rest of his team was faring better than he.

---

Sato was aware that he was being followed as he returned to the congregation. He glanced back a few times, trying to stay far ahead of the blue haired kunoichi chasing him along the lip of the canyon.

The other chaperones came into view and Gyorai swooped to come beside Kutaiku and his passengers. Sato's grim expression immediately unnerved both Hinata and Sakura.

"Where's Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked.

"He stayed behind. The Akatsuki are here." Sato informed them, "We need to turn this group around now."

Hinata used her Byakugan to survey the area, first spotting the kunoichi approaching them, and then the man Kakashi was battling about a mile away. She relayed the positions of the Rain ninja to Sato and Sakura. Sumaru banked towards them and asked what the trouble was.

"There is a dangerous organization called the Akatsuki that we've been warned about, and two members are here. They are high-ranking and dangerous shinobi." Sakura filled the Star ninja in, "We need to get the children away from here. You and Hokuto should guide them back to the Fire Country and we'll distract them for you."

"Hokuto can do it. I'll help you fight." Sumaru objected.

Sakura, assuming an impromptu leadership position, shook her head, "No, Sumaru. If either one of these shinobi get past us to the children, Hokuto will need back-up. Please stay with her."

He held his tongue. Sakura was absolutely right. Sumaru banked on transparent wings and told them to be careful. They watched him reach his girlfriend and pass along the news. The owls promptly changed course and were led away by the Star ninja.

The Akatsuki kunoichi had arrived. With a whirl of her cloak, a storm of paper projectiles shot up towards Sato. Gyorai reacted quickly, "Air Metal Feathers!" The composition of his feathers became metallic and he blocked the incoming volley with his wing.

Sato made a breathless request, "Can you girls cover me so I can get back to Kakashi?"

"Yes! Go Sato-kun!" Hinata leapt from Kutaiku's back to the top of a stone archway. She bolted straight towards the blue haired woman and prepared a classic Hyuga-greeting. Gyorai wheeled about and doubled back, taking Sato to his uncle.

Sakura watched smugly as Hinata tested the woman's defenses with lionhearted Jyukken slaps. The Rain kunoichi evaded until she was struck, and then the woman dispersed into slips of paper to avoid further harm.

Hinata's Byakugan was keen to how the woman's body had arranged itself. Whether paper or flesh, the Hyuga girl was still able to spot weaknesses. Hinata's stance shifted accordingly and she pummeled the slips at key points with a 64 Palm strike. It seemed to nullify the imperviousness of the woman's paper ability and the kunoichi reformed, bloodied and bruised. She looked truly surprised by the young girl's apt use of Taijutsu.

'Damn, Hinata! As a melee fighter you're the best choice to test an enemy's defense. She looks freaked out!' Sakura was elated to see that Hinata was an unexpected match for the Akatsuki woman, 'In my case, my first priority is keeping everyone healthy; that is the role of a medic. But if she gets close enough...I'll punch that bitch right into her next birthday!'

She would love an opportunity to unleash her super strength, but Tsunade had instilled in her a thorough understanding of what was expected of her on the battlefield: Above all else you must stay uninjured, Sakura. You need to avoid attacks and keep your distance. If you are disabled, then you will be unavailable to teammates. Don't forget that you have a supporting role on a team, but when you are on your own...that is when you take a person's head off.'

For a few minutes Hinata made a mockery of the so-called threat. When the kunoichi was sick and tired of the thrashing she took, she made a break for it, creating paper clones as a distraction. Hinata spun and danced, using less-traditional Jyukken, and shredded the paper replications. She had been developing a style of her own she had named "Gentle Step." It was a hybrid of Gentle Fist combined with her natural talents: her dancing and her budding control over her Water chakra affinity.

While chasing the retreating kunoichi Hinata could see the Star ninja had put considerable distance between themselves and danger.

Her Byakugan revealed a wide ring of paper bombs below the topsoil. Hinata made a leap to avoid them, but a newly-formed paper clone caught her in the back with a desperate kick. Hinata tumbled to the ground and into the trap. The blue haired woman stopped to watch as the bombs flared to life around the Leaf kunoichi.

Sakura sucked breath when the explosions went off around her friend, "Hinata!"

Hinata had blocked with a spherical wall of chakra and Sakura was relieved. Sakura watched the balance of aggression, patience and thoughtfulness in Hinata's actions. It bolstered Sakura's confidence, helping her shed fear and doubt completely, 'Even if we're in over our heads...if we end up getting killed...all we can afford to think about now is winning!

The pink haired girl asked Kutaiku to descend and circle around the Akatsuki member, "If we can stop her from escaping it could give Hinata a chance to finish her off! We should try it!"

"Just because this woman is ill-suited against a Taijutsu specialist does not mean you should underestimate her." Kutaiku warned her, "You are taking a risk if you get involved."

"You're right, but don't go underestimating ME." Sakura retorted, "Get me down there!"

The drizzle turned into a downpour as owl and passenger joined the harassment of the Rain kunoichi.

---

Kakashi had clashed with Rain ninja long enough to predict the timing of the gravity pulls and pushes.

'I'm out of shape...' He thought at one point. The man Kakashi was fighting was clearly older than him, but had not tired at all. His movements and attacks were as fresh and precise as when they had begun, and Kakashi wished he still had the spring in his step he had enjoyed ten years earlier in the Black Ops.

Things took a perilous turn when the Akatsuki shinobi went on the offensive, swiping at the Leaf ninja with a sharp carbon rod. Kakashi resorted to using his Sharingan, hard-pressed to avoid the tireless man's assault. The rainfall had made the ground slick as they dashed about, meeting and parting violently.

From the corner of his eye Kakashi watched Gyorai soar overhead. Sato leapt down in silence, falcon-like, and went straight for the Rain ninja, 'Unfailingly reckless-!' Kakashi's heart nearly stopped when the man reached and caught Sato by the throat. It had looked as easy as catching a ball in the schoolyard. Sato wretched, struggled, and then ignited.

The Fire Clone Sato had sent down had been paper mache'd with explosive tags

The blast was savage and Kakashi had not been nearby, but he still had to tuck and roll to avoid the debris and flames. While the black cloud of smoke was dissipating, Sato came to stand beside his uncle.

"I was setting traps so I thought I should send you guys a present in the meantime." The young Hatake explained.

"You had me worried for a second there."

"Nah, I never engage a fight myself." He was smiling, "I'm the indirect type."

Kakashi thanked heaven above for that. His Sharingan quickly located the Rain ninja who was unscathed by the bombing.

"He shielded himself with that repulsion power." Kakashi acknowledged, "If you're going to help me you need to be cautious, Sato. He exerts a force he can push and pull with, and there's a five second delay between each use."

"So let's coordinate. When he counters one of us with that power, then the other will move in..." The boy understood right away.

"Yes. Watch yourself, Sato. He's one of the strongest shinobi I have ever faced."

Sato grimaced. He kept his thoughts private, but Sato could tell that if Kakashi was already struggling that he, a much younger and less experienced ninja, could not afford a single mistake if he wanted to escape with his life.

His scattered Fire Clones had finished setting traps and then rushed towards the Rain shinobi. From above, Gyorai added pressure with a flurry of iron-tipped feathers. Rather than use a repelling force again to protect himself, the Akatsuki nin dodged, incredibly agile, and hacked apart the disruptive clones.

Kakashi used a variety of "copied" Ninjutsu to get the enemy's attention, favoring Earth jutsu to manipulate the Rain ninja around the plateau. After becoming annoyed by Kakashi's pestering the shinobi rushed at him, furious, and a volley of blows were exchanged.

The moment arrived when the Akatsuki affiliate used his repelling force again, pushing Kakashi dozens of meters and then over the side of the plateau. Gyorai caught him with a well-timed swoop and Kakashi sprang from the owl's back, rejoining the fight on the rainy canyon-top.

Sato had ambushed the unknown shinobi one second after the force-push had concluded. The silver haired boy plunged his kodachi down, drawing on everything the swordsman Anyo had taught him, and was effectively blocked. Sato cursed, flipping and weaving, moving faster than he had ever been able to before, and tried to make use of the few precious seconds remaining. His Genjutsu had fooled the man for a moment, making him block a blow from an illusionary-Sato. The Genin attacked again, slicing a small mark on the side of the man's head when he dodged. He leapt away from the Rain ninja, cutting a trigger-wire that was snug under a rock.

An enormous bear-trap snapped shut around the enemy.

It was a fraction of a second too late; the shinobi blasted it open with repulsive force. Hunks of broken metal clanged across the plateau and Kakashi had feinted with a Shadow Clone, drawing the Rain's ninja's attention away from Sato. The real Leaf Jounin had successfully come up from behind, 'I'm still in the delay period!' And Kakashi had aimed a Raikiri jab at the enemy as he turned.

The man had anticipated an attack from behind, and Kakashi's jab grazed the Rain shinobi in the arm, avoiding the fatal blow that was intended. He completed the turn, bisecting the Shadow Clone coming to the rescue, and then stabbed Kakashi in the shoulder. The Jounin grunted in pain, stuck on the rod that had impaled him.

"I have not exerted myself yet." The Akatsuki representative said in a lofty voice, "Have you?"

Sato's flying kick hit the man squarely on the left cheek, knocking him sideways, and Kakashi leapt away at the first opportunity.

After letting a smoke bomb provide them with some retreating cover, both Hatakes took refuge behind a boulder. Kakashi removed the rod and put pressure on the stab wound. Blood dripped down into the rain puddle beside him; a harsh reminder of his mortality. Sato reached over and tied a sloppy but tight swath of bandages around the man's shoulder.

They said nothing to each other for a few moments. The reality of the situation was now dawning on them. It was, far and away, a truly hopeless battle for them.

"This is a foe we will not defeat today. Not even with a dozen Leaf shinobi, I don't know if we ever could…" Kakashi said quietly, "If he truly has not made any effort in this fight yet…then we are outmatched. I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Sato, I know it isn't very inspiring…"

"It's alright. I promise I won't give up." Sato told him, "As long as the girls make it out of here and the Star kids arrive safely…I won't get upset. It's our responsibility to keep this guy away from them, Kakashi."

"Huh." His uncle looked up at the sky from beneath soggy bangs, "It seems you're the one inspiring me."

---

The Akatsuki woman had been employing paper bombs and projectiles to keep distance between her and the Leaf kunoichi. Hinata frequently blocked with her sphere-defense, Divine Protection, and counter attacked when she could. She shot small bolts of water, expertly controlled by her Water Affinity, and then terrorized the enemy with Taijutsu if she strayed too close.

The increasing pressure the blue haired kunoichi created with her distractions and tricks had virtually ceased Hinata's offensive. Sakura's covering fire with projectiles and Kutaiku's razor-feathers would miss when the woman broke herself down into paper. Hinata had begun to consider using the Misago Byakugan to press their advantage again, 'It would only help me for a short amount of time before I get exhausted...and I don't want to be worn down before I can help Sato-kun and Kakashi-sensei.' Sakura had her back, but even so she had to keep her involvement limited for the sake of the team.

"We've got to try something else," Sakura demanded the owl's cooperation, "Any ideas? This woman just wants to keep us away from her partner, but she's getting too comfy now!"

"I've been told you are quite skilled, especially with chakra control." Kutaiku replied, "If we combine Ninjutsu it could make a devastating technique. We can try that."

"Okay, so how do we do it?"

"I will focus my chakra and you will focus yours. We should resonate about the same amount of energy for our techniques, and if we time it correctly, we can use a jutsu together." Kutaiku explained, "This is common for summoned animals and shinobi, however Sato has not attempted something like this with me...so you will be the first person."

"Great." Sakura sighed.

She decided to let her Hell yeah! attitude take over to boost confidence, and she prepared herself for the strongest Fire jutsu she had been taught, 'If Kutaiku would just hold still I would probably be able to get a feel for this...' But Kutaiku continued circling above the Rain kunoichi and Hinata, doing his part of focusing while Sakura could only hope she was doing something right.

Beginner's luck was favoring her, and she felt a twinge of intuition tell her that Kutaiku was ready. She unleashed her chakra and technique, letting it bond with the bird's, "Katon: Dragon Fire jutsu!"

"Futon: Gale Breath!"

They maintained their jutsu, watching as it swirled and grew into a horrific, continuous flamethrower that razed everything below it. Rainfall was seared into its vapor state as the jet of flame shot towards the blue haired woman, who was plainly terrified to see the column of fire coming her way. Hinata had retreated appropriately to observe Sakura, who chased the Akatsuki kunoichi around the rocky plateau.

Hinata could see the paper projectiles the woman tried to counter with caught fire quickly, 'I see! That paper was oiled so it could be used in the rain! That isn't much good around fire though...'

Paper clone decoys were left behind, but Sakura incinerated them before they could get anything productive done. The flames formed a barrier, scorching the plateau, and corralled the woman towards the edge of a cliff. Hinata stayed on the opposite side of the wall of fire, waiting for any sign of desperation from their opponent. The woman surely had not anticipated two young kunoichi to toy with her, but she was not as helpless as she seemed.

Paper wings formed and carried the woman to safety. She began to fly back in the direction of Kakashi's battle. Sakura abruptly ceased her combined Fire jutsu and called to her friend, "Come on Hinata! We can't let her get over there!"

Hinata made a running start and then leapt onto Kutaiku's back. The owl dove ahead through the canyon in pursuit of the blue haired woman.

---

A blast had hit both Sato and Kakashi simultaneously as they abandoned cover. They were thrown back a considerable distance before hitting the broad side of a rock formation. Their mouths gaped; trying to get air after the wind had been knocked out of them. Knowing that inaction spelled death they sprang after recovering, moving in opposite directions. Kakashi, knowing that Sato was more vulnerable, created a diversion.

He summoned all of his hounds who immediately went after the Rain ninja. The dogs scrambled, snapping, charging with weapons, and the man evaded them gracefully; kicking aside any hound that got too close. Sato maintained a safe distance and was pleased when his uncle's Shadow Clone appeared near the Rain nin's feet, using the Headhunter Jutsu in an attempt to pull the enemy underground.

The man used another repulsive blast and Kakashi's timing was perfect. As the dogs and Shadow Clone were knocked away, the Leaf Jounin raced ahead with a crackling Chidori, confident and true in his course.

"This again." The man droned.

He caught Kakashi's arm, faster than a blink, and punched the Jounin in the stomach without a trace of mercy. Their eyes met for a moment, and Kakashi pondered how he could have been countered so handily, 'Even with my Sharingan...he's moving faster and reacting to attacks that no one else should be able to...it's as if...' He looked at the man's eyes, confused, 'Those are some strange eyes...is it a Doujutsu? Is that what we're dealing with?'

A gravity blast knocked him away and Kakashi slammed into the same debris pile his dogs were whimpering in.

Sato's Chidori impaled the Rain ninja a heartbeat afterward.

The boy's expression revealed a mix of satisfaction and remorse, knowing it was a fatal blow to the chest.

"Sorry, but this fight is over." He told the cloaked man.

Sato was beginning to notice and alarming lack of blood and warmth.

"Yes. It is over." The man agreed. He was unaffected by the assassination technique, and in the next moment stabbed Sato in retaliation. The rod sunk into his right side, excruciating, hitting vital points that Sato was aware of. He let out a sharp breath and withdrew his hand, not understanding why the Rain ninja was invulnerable to every effort they could muster.

Resignation washed over Sato, '...I lost. I won't get away now.'

"Run Kakashi!" The boy screamed over his shoulder, "He's not going down! Get away from here!"

The Rain ninja observed the young man struggling on the end of the rod, "Children are the first to be sacrificed to further the goals of adults. Maybe now you understand this?"

"Go to hell!" Sato hissed.

The man unleashed a force with his free hand, pushing the boy down to the slick ground, and then crushed him.

Kakashi heard screaming as he kept his eyes on Sato and then realized after a moment that it was his own voice, shouting at the top of his lungs as the last of his blood kin was killed by the Akatsuki. Kakashi pushed himself up to his knees, watching powerlessly, and his Sharingan could track rain drops that fell in dreamlike, slow-motion and landed on his nephew's heedless face. His cares were left in the material world and his pain was over, at least, Kakashi hoped so.

His heart wrenched, devastated that the boy who he had come to cherish had his life unfairly snuffed out. Semi had begged him to do everything in his power to see that Sato had a long and prosperous life, and Kakashi felt it was the ultimate insult to his sister to let the child die first even after he had sworn it would never happen. Kakashi let the self-hatred and guilt swirling in his mind take over.

His vision inexplicably sharpened. Something was odd.

The Rain ninja rounded on Kakashi, completely unashamed of murdering such a young person. Kakashi swallowed hard, knowing that he had very little fight left in him, 'But if I can stall a little bit longer…then the others can escape...' That hope was dashed when he noticed the blue haired woman coming around the bend with Sakura and Hinata close behind.

---

Hinata's eyes took in the morbid scene below. Sato, she could see, was dead at the Akatsuki man's feet. Kakashi was across the plateau and badly wounded, struggling to stand. She felt terror and despair flood her veins and the feeling was reinforced by Sakura's panicked sob beside her.

'Sato-kun...' Tears rolled freely down Hinata's cheeks, 'Were we too late? No. We must help Kakashi-sensei!'

The blue haired woman landed on a ledge above the plateau, appearing to withdraw from battle. Hinata could tell from the enemy kunoichi's disengagement that her partner was able to handle all of them without her assistance.

She took a long moment to steel her nerves. Crying would not help, but she hoped her new ability could make a difference, or at least afford Kakashi the opportunity to retreat. Hinata exhaled, calming down, and let energy flood her while calling upon the Misago Byakugan. She weighed her options, 'I could attack...however I have no idea how fast or experienced that man is.' While she knew she was a match for the unknown kunoichi, the man was another matter, 'It would be best for me to learn more while I can! Then I can stage a diversion...'

Sakura's voice faded into the background, her vision shifted, and Hinata was no longer airborne on Kutaiku's back. She was suddenly on the ground standing over Sato, overlapped with the Rain ninja's consciousness. He made a soft sound of surprise, quickly aware of her presence, but he held still. They were rapidly sizing each other up.

Something was off about the body she had entered, she thought to herself, 'It feels cool and still...this isn't like being with the children or Hanabi. I feel chakra coursing through, but,' Hinata had a moment of terrible discovery, 'This isn't the chakra of this body! This body isn't alive!' She felt like shrieking in fear, not comprehending how a dead body was animated to fight at first, 'Someone is controlling this body with chakra? Outside? How?'

She shared vision with her temporary host and was immediately aware of the powerful eyes she was seeing out of. She could not explain the strange sensations and details she was observing, but she wanted to find something that might help her protect her friends. Hinata mapped out points on the body pierced with carbon rods that were acting like antennae, pulling in the controller's chakra, 'If I interrupt the flow, will this body stop moving?' She didn't have a moment to spare. Every precious second she spent deciding how to act her opponent was trying to make the same judgments about her.

Hinata concentrated and then flushed her own chakra into the Rain ninja's body. It was not unlike how she would use a rotation, forcing chakra from all of her tenketsu, but her energy flowed from her body, disconnected briefly, and then out of chakra points in the body of the man. The chakra receptors in the enemy flared and were then disabled, nullifying outside control. The vision she shared with the man disappeared, and the consciousness she had sensed that was occupying the corpse abruptly vanished. Hinata withdrew, returning to her body, and the Rain ninja collapsed to the wet gravel.

Hinata woke and Sakura was still talking to her, "Are you alright? I thought I was losing you for a second, Hinata!"

"I stopped him!" Hinata shouted, "Hurry! We need to get to them now before he returns!"

"What are you talking about-?" Sakura caught a bit of what her friend was trying to get across. It appeared that the ginger haired man below was down-for-the-count. She just accepted that Hinata had done something to neutralize the immediate danger, even if she had been next to the girl the whole time.

Kutaiku descended and so did the blue haired kunoichi. The woman rushed to the Rain ninja's body, pulling it into a sitting position.

"What's wrong, Nagato? You lost contact." She said quietly.

The owl landed and Sakura waved to Kakashi to get his attention, "Kakashi-sensei! Hey! Hinata says we don't have a lot of time!"

The Leaf Jounin staggered to his feet, unsure of how the Rain ninja had become incapacitated. He listened to Sakura urging him to get a move on. Kakashi asked his hounds to retreat before he made a clumsy dash to the crater ahead. He slid down, soaked from the rain, and carefully lifted Sato's body. He backed away, fearful, keeping his eyes glued to the woman who was examining her fallen partner. When he determined that he would not be attacked Kakashi leapt away, making it to Kutaiku, who took off an instant later.

"Sato! Is he alright?" The owl asked worriedly, ascending through a rain cloud, "Sato!"

Kakashi gave a heartbroken look to his student, "Sakura, can you do anything for him?"

He had laid the boy flat and they kneeled on either side of him. Sakura, just by glancing at Sato, knew that his injuries were severe. She checked for a pulse, and when she found no sign of life she initiated chest compressions. She paused, searching again, 'His bones are broken but the organ damage...it's too much. I won't get him back.' His body was mangled beyond repair, she feared. It would take Tsunade and a miracle combined to save him, in Sakura's opinion.

Her eyes met Hinata's, "Please try something, Hinata! What you did before...you told me you saved yourself on the Retrieval Mission. Can you do it again?"

The Hyuga girl pursed her lips. She did not want to tell her teammates that she had no control over what had happened to her that day. She could, however, try to recreate it. Although her stamina was wearing thin from her earlier use of the Misago Byakugan, she called on it again, scanning over Sato, and then overlaid with him. She encountered the same cold quiet that she had with the previous body she had been in contact with. Sakura watched with baited breath as Hinata became still and silent, absent from her own body, she guessed.

She had no idea if it would do any good, but Hinata made her best attempt to flush the last chakra she could possibly part with through the boy's body. It resonated like a high-pitched hum and then began to circulate normally through Sato's chakra coils. It felt warm. She felt stirring. She also felt exhaustion. 'I hope this lasts. I don't have enough strength to do it again...' Hinata returned to herself again, letting out a breath, and then her shoulders slumped tiredly.

Sakura was busy taking advantage of the faint heartbeat she had picked up. She scrambled, healing the most serious injuries first, if possible, 'This is a disaster. Most of these injuries are fatal, so even if we did revive him for now he could die in a few minutes!' She glanced to Hinata again, expectant, "Would you be able to help me heal him?"

Hinata stretched her hands in front of her weakly, setting them on Sato's abdomen, and a faint green glow followed. For a short while she assisted and then stopped, shutting her eyes.

"I am spent. I'm sorry." Hinata told her quietly.

Sakura nodded to her in understanding, 'She fought so hard and her power does consume a lot of chakra...she's done enough.'

Sakura moved up and down, sensing for injuries, and mended broken ribs before moving on to any internal damage. She also detected a stab wound, a lower vertebrae fracture and then found head trauma, a badly broken leg, both arms broken and a broken collar bone.

Kutaiku flew steadily out of the canyon and Gyorai descended towards them after spotting them from above in cloud cover. The owls chattered with great concern, asking if Sato had made it.

"Cool it, you two! We need to get back to Konoha as soon as possible!" Sakura warned them, "There's still a chance, but I can't heal all of this on my own."

She healed what she could, but Sakura knew she was rapidly draining herself of chakra. Sato made a start unexpectedly and the three conscious shinobi gasped, shocked and relieved. He then began screaming himself hoarse, still in agony from the injuries that remained. Sakura ordered Kakashi to hold the boy still after he had begun thrashing. He pinned Sato and Sakura was able to resume her work, prioritizing the most dangerous wounds. By the time she was satisfied with her healing endeavors, Sato had screamed himself unconscious. They left the rain behind and clear skies greeted them as they came closer and closer to the Fire Country border.

'I have to leave his leg and collar bone for later...I started his arms, but I don't have enough chakra to finish them.' Sakura thought to herself, 'It doesn't matter. I think I got most of the severe injuries. Now let's just hope he holds on for a while...'

Sakura sighed and then turned to Kakashi. He was staring mutely ahead and she watched as a tear escaped his right eye. She patted her teacher's shoulder reassuringly, "It's going to be alright. I think he can tough it out now." She noticed his shoulder had a makeshift bandage around it. She spared a bit more chakra to heal it.

"It was just like back then..." Kakashi muttered, remembering Obito's cruel end. Sakura did not know what he was referring to, but she could see that the man was traumatized.

Hinata tensed. She used her Byakugan and then sucked wind in fright. Sakura looked to her, eyes wide, "What is it?"

"They are following us." Hinata reported. She could see about two miles from their position both Rain ninja had recovered and were giving chase.

Sakura didn't want to put any more pressure on her battered teacher, but with the whole team so weak it would spell the end if they were caught. "Kakashi-sensei, can you stop them?"

"I would likely die trying." He admitted, "If it comes to it, you'll have to go on without me."

Sakura cursed, looking back over her shoulder. She could not see them yet, but Hinata certainly could, and Sakura knew that once the enemy was close enough for her to see it would probably be too late. She asked Kutaiku to fly higher or if he and Gyorai could set traps.

"That man pulled Chitose down and killed her easily." Kakashi interjected, "They shouldn't put themselves in harm's way again."

The sinking feeling in her stomach returned, and Sakura frowned in frustration, upset that the mission demanded at least one person sacrifice himself or herself to the Rain ninja. 'I've done all that I can do and so has Hinata...I don't want Kakashi to throw himself at them only to slow them down...we have to find a way.'

Gyorai made a soft sound of greeting when Sumaru banked towards them, descending from cloud cover. He was very concerned about the state of his Leaf comrades.

"I came back to check on you! What happened?" He asked.

"We are outmatched by the shinobi following us." Kakashi warned him, "The most we can hope for is to escape, but even that doesn't seem to be possible right now, Sumaru."

"Hokuto and the children made it. They should be arriving in the Leaf Village any moment now." Sumaru told them, "You all go ahead and I will stop them. I doubt they'll have enough strength left to deal with me!"

Kakashi wanted to object to his bold defiance, however, Hinata spoke up, "We should listen to him. Sumaru should at least be able to distract them."

Kakashi paused, considering it. 'I suspected that Sumaru was the strongest in his village, but I don't know if he'll be able to handle two members of the Akatsuki on his own.' In what was likely his most selfish thought yet, since Sumaru had willingly offered to stay behind, Kakashi felt it was fair to continue and save the lives of his subordinates. They had fought and struggled beyond limits they knew they had, managed to preserve Sato, and halted the Rain shinobi if only for a short while. They had earned their right to flee to safety.

"Thank you." Kakashi said to Star ninja, "We'll meet you at the village."

Sumaru nodded and then pulled up. The owls soared on into the clear skies while Sakura and Kakashi looked back, watching as Sumaru's translucent wings lengthened, steadying him as he faced the incoming threat.

The Star ninja held still and focused his chakra. His retreating friends were shocked to see his chakra become visible and radiant, in what Kakashi would describe as a manifestation similar to a jinchuriki's Biju-chakra cloak. Kutaiku screeched in alarm as atmospheric pressure dropped; frightened by the environmental changes occurring in response to Sumaru's jutsu.

Particles in the air began to condense and Sumaru's chakra wings had changed shape: slender and violet, and a long, bird-of-paradise-like tail sprouted as a third appendage. He hovered in the air, fearless and glowing, and concentrated on gathering chakra. Kakashi's group had covered considerable distance and the Rain shinobi had come within range of trading blows with Sumaru. Sumaru was able to act first, concluding hand seals, and had completed his complex shape manipulation.

Kakashi, from a great distance, swore he was seeing Sumaru mix more than two elements, 'How is he...I know that Particle-Style techniques exist in the Rock Village...but what is that?'

The sky rained down energy beams when Sumaru attacked with a cry, and the landscape within the vicinity of the approaching Akatsuki was ripped apart. The Rain shinobi blocked swiftly with his force-shield, but after a few fleeting moments it caved. He and the kunoichi retreated from the grassy field, backtracking, but were still pummeled by incoming particle beams.

Kakashi could only see relentless blasts of light and chakra striking down like Heaven's vengeance, and his mouth hung open, stupefied by the display of power.

The second shield failed after the time delay ended, and the Rain ninja found it futile to counterattack. Sumaru's long-range strike continued uninterrupted and simultaneously the bird-tail vectored down, crashing into the earth and swiping the two enemy shinobi. They were hurled back, tumbling in the rubble, but caught themselves and escaped injury. They gave up. The pair turned around and fled back to their territory.

Hinata exhaled while observing with her Byakugan, 'They don't want to waste their energy on us anymore. Also, I think the chakra signal controlling the body reached its limit, so it would have been pointless to continue.'

Sakura tried to relax and stop frowning, concentrating on the rolling green forests that came into view. She and Kakashi held Sato steady between them, both silent and contemplating what they had gone through.

Sumaru had ended his brutal attack and about-faced, following after his friends with jet-like speed.

---

Their arrival in Leaf was noisy. Sakura had asked Kutaiku to go straight for the hospital, and below they were not surprised to see a congregation out in front of the building waiting for them. The other owls were waiting with children circled around them, and Natsuhi and Hokuto stood nearby. Gyorai and Kutaiku landed carefully, and Kakashi slid down with Sato's limp body in his arms. Sakura and Hinata followed, unable to disguise the weariness on their faces.

Tsunade rushed over to Kakashi's team, roughly aware of what hardship they had experienced, "Who got it worst?"

"Sato." Kakashi's voice was still sorrowful. The group of hospital medic-nin beside Tsunade immediately took the silver haired boy from his uncle's arms and replaced him on a stretcher. They hustled into the hospital a moment later.

Tsunade turned to Sakura expectantly, "Please come with me, Sakura. I need you to walk me through what you were and weren't able to do for him."

"Yes, Shishou."

The Hokage then made eye contact with Kakashi, "Kakashi, I expect you and Hinata to be ready for a debriefing once Sakura and I finish his treatment. I need you to tell me everything."

The man nodded wearily. Sakura and her master rushed into the hospital, not wanting to waste any time.

Natsuhi approached Kakashi; her expression was sympathetic, "I'm sorry about all of the trouble you had to go through, Hatake-san. I never imagined something like this could happen."

He shook his head, "No. I should apologize to you...to everyone. I was responsible. The Akatsuki nearly jeopardized this entire mission and I should have taken greater precautions."

"You can't prepare for everything." Natsuhi reminded him. She looked up with a smile, seeing Sumaru's silhouette against the sun, and she wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug when he landed.

Hokuto was next, and she was scooped up and squeezed by her boyfriend who was still high on adrenalin. She kissed Sumaru's cheek and whispered for him to calm down. He did, a little bit.

Sumaru addressed Kakashi, "Did everyone make it safely?"

"Yes. Thank you for what you did back there." Kakashi told him, "You're the reason we're alive."

The boy smiled, "It's the least I can do for my friends."

Kakashi was cheered up a bit by the Star group's reunion and their kindness. He came to stand beside Hinata who looked absolutely dreadful.

"Let me take you home so you can rest, Hinata." The Jounin offered.

She complied with a weak nod and walked beside him. Traces of horror, curiosity and relief flickered across her face as they traveled down the main road. Kakashi knew she was trapped in her own thoughts; a coping mechanism he could not afford to try while the Hokage expected him to suck it up and manage things.

Hinata walked slowly, aching with every step. After several minutes of silence she decided to speak, "Kakashi-sensei."

"Hm?"

"Something was wrong with that man." She said grimly, "When I saw inside of him...that body was dead. It was being controlled by someone."

Wide-eyed, Kakashi stared at her. He digested the information, 'So that's what she did! She was able to stop that shinobi from the inside...It's no wonder why our attacks didn't work, then...that body did not respond to pain or injury...not even killing it would have achieved anything.' Kakashi jammed his hands in his pockets, stewing it over, 'Maybe the only way would have been to destroy the body entirely so there was nothing left to control. Although, I can't imagine how I would have done it...'

"That explains why we couldn't do much." Kakashi agreed, "Your ability has given us a clue about this enemy and that is incredibly valuable, you know."

They trudged through the front entrance of the Hyuga estate together. Hiashi was having a word with Hideyasu in a side yard. The two men immediately noticed Kakashi's tall, lanky form beside the small Hyuga kunoichi. Hinata's accompaniment had to mean something significant, so they met them halfway across the courtyard in front of the house.

Neji passed through the entrance after Kakashi and Hinata entered. He had wrapped up training with his team for the day, but his curiosity was piqued when he saw his family gathered around Kakashi. He crossed over to them and listened as the Jounin spoke.

"On our way back from the Star Village we had a run-in with two Akatsuki members," Kakashi explained, "It was the most one-sided battle I have ever experienced in my life."

Hideyasu was visibly shocked, "Why would they so brazenly attack, Kakashi? If it was just a chance meeting..."

The silver haired man sighed, "Well...several things prompted it, I think. We were called 'liabilities' to their organization and they vocalized their dislike of an alliance between Leaf and Star." Kakashi looked to Neji who was trying to pick up on what had happened, "There was no way to identify who they were. I didn't recognize them from any advisory I've checked...and their techniques were unlike anything I've seen. Our kunoichi overwhelmed the woman who was fighting, but that man..."

A small sound escaped Hinata, as if she was reliving the terror of confronting the Rain ninja.

"He mortally wounded Sato...and there was nothing I could do to stop him." Kakashi said quietly, "I would have been killed if Hinata hadn't stepped in."

Hiashi was bug-eyed after hearing those words, "Hinata?"

Neji and Hideyasu, beside the Head of Hyuga clan, fixed their eyes on the quaking girl. Neji moved to stand beside her, finally realizing that she was due to collapse from exhaustion.

"Hinata was able to disable an opponent I had no chance of defeating." Kakashi confirmed it.

Hiashi closed his eyes, feeling pride and fear at the thought of his daughter risking her life. He addressed her, "I am sure you must be worn down, Hinata. I am glad that you returned home safely...but please, never approach the Akatsuki carelessly."

"Never." She agreed softly.

"I'll return with the Hokage for a debriefing, once she finishes healing my nephew." Kakashi informed them, "Until then get some rest, Hinata-sama, you've earned it."

"I will see you then, Kakashi-sensei."

Kakashi found his way out, still managing to keep his cool.

Hideyasu smiled and laid a hand on Hinata's shoulder, "As always, you're a gem on every team, Hinata-sama. Saving Kakashi's life means that he is in your debt."

She shook her head, "No, it isn't like that...I did what I had to do so we could all survive. It only worked for a few minutes, really. Kakashi-sensei doesn't owe me anything."

The friendly Hyuga man laughed, "So modest! I'll be sure to remind him for you." He strode away after commending her, always happy to get on a youngster's nerves.

Hiashi ushered Hinata and Neji into the house, leading the way to Hinata's room. Apparently, Hideyasu had let the word slip to Hanabi on his way to find his children, and the girl raced around the bend in the main hall. She pushed her way past her father and cousin and stormed into the bedroom. Hinata had collapsed face-first onto her bed, totally depleted.

Hanabi grimaced at her with her hands on her hips, "You fought the Akatsuki? What were you thinking!"

"You are out of line, Hanabi." Her father grumbled, "Show a little respect, please, it was not her choice to confront them..."

"Uncle Hideyasu said-!"

"Neji, make her sit down." Hiashi strode in and sat in the desk chair near Hinata's bed.

With an exasperated look Neji grabbed a fistful of the back of Hanabi's shirt and lifted her up, relocating her to an area rug on the floor. Her legs folded beneath her and she took a seat, still a bit riled-up. Neji continued to stand, hoping to learn more about the mission Hinata had returned from.

"If you can manage it, Hinata, I would like to know what happened." Her father asked, "I know that you and Kakashi will need to submit a report to the Hokage, but you can be informal with me."

Hinata rolled over and slowly sat up. She tucked her hands in her lap and looked at her family, not shy about showing how tired she was. She began the tale from their initial departure, flying to the Star Village, inspecting the children and then the flight home, which took a chaotic turn. She described how she and Sakura had been a decent match for the Akatsuki kunoichi, but found that the same could not be said of her partner.

"That man had red hair and facial piercings..." She paused, "Actually, there were piercings all over his body. They were pulling an outside chakra in. It was so strange."

"You were unable to identify either person?" Her father checked.

"No, we couldn't." She admitted, "When we followed the woman back to where Kakashi-sensei was fighting...that man had killed Sato-kun."

Neji and Hanabi were startled by the news.

Neji gave her a seriously concerned look, "I heard Kakashi say that he had survived..."

"Sakura-chan and I were able to revive him, but it took all of our strength." She told him, "I don't think I should try using the Misago Byakugan for a while...well...I don't know if I would be able to."

She tried to describe how she had used her ability to temporarily break the connection between the controller and the body. They had escaped and set to work healing their teammates, but after being pursued by the Rain shinobi only Sumaru was able to fend them off, "And he did it with a jutsu that..."

She paused in thought, "I don't know. His star chakra rained from the sky and destroyed everything. After that they chose not to follow us."

"Star ninja have very exotic talents." Hiashi acknowledged.

Her family members were aghast over the story. Hiashi wondered how Kakashi dealt with his nephew's sacrifice.

"Kakashi-sensei gave up hope after that." Hinata admitted, "I was worried he wouldn't be able to escape, he was so upset..."

Hiashi and Neji sympathized, understanding how dreadful a feeling it would be to lose a teammate or loved one. It was a well-known fact that Sato was the only family that Kakashi had left.

Hinata's voice shook, "I was s-scared that Sato-kun was beyond saving...if I didn't have just enough chakra left to use that jutsu, we wouldn't have been able to do a thing."

"Rest now. You don't need to be troubled by it any longer," Hiashi told her, "I appreciate that you shared that with me, Hinata. I'll also be sure to prevent our elders from pestering you with questions, since news of your ability is sure to reach their ears at some point..."

He stood and excused himself. Neji and Hanabi remained, still baffled. Neji could hardly believe what a close call it had been. While he had only been vaguely informed of the organization's existence, the Akatsuki were a real and significant threat to Leaf and other villages that defied them.

'And even Kakashi could not contend with the member he encountered...all they could ask for was to leave that place with their lives.' He thought darkly.

"Will you both stay with me for a little while?" Hinata asked.

Neji nodded, "Of course, Hinata-sama. I'll get you something to drink." He rose and went to fetch tea, his default relaxation strategy.

Hanabi, with the same brooding countenance she had come in with, watched her older sister's face.

"You are kind like Mother but strong like Father." Hanabi pointed out, "I want to learn to be more kind so I'll be missed if anything ever happens to me."

"Don't you say such things!" Hinata admonished the girl, stepping away from the bed, and she hugged Hanabi tightly, "You are already deserving of that love! I love you! Don't talk so foolishly, Hanabi."

The younger girl hesitated and then wrapped her arms around Hinata, grateful for the embrace.

---

Over an hour later Kakashi poked his head into a room that Sato had been relocated to. Tsunade stood beside the young Hatake's bed, pointing out measurements on an IV drip to Sakura. They spoke medical jargon to each other for a minute before they noticed Kakashi's arrival.

Tsunade waved him in, clearly in a pleasant mood, "Come in, Kakashi."

He entered, settling his eyes on his nephew. The boy was still unconscious and wrapped head to toe in bandages. Both of his arms were in slings and his leg was elevated in a cast. Kakashi winced a little at the sight.

"Because of Sakura's bravery and level-headedness, Sato will make a full recovery." Tsunade announced, "I couldn't have healed his injuries any better than she did out in the field. I did some touch-ups…but he'll need to rest for several weeks before he can live independently. He may need to be physically reevaluated so I can determine if he can continue missions."

"I am grateful to the both of you." Kakashi told them with sincerity.

Tsunade smiled, pleased, "It's my duty. Your team thoroughly protected those children and each other. Natsuhi and I will never forget it."

"Is there anything else I can do, Tsunade-shishou?" Sakura asked.

"Yes," Her master replied, "Go home. I will conduct evaluations of the children on my own later. For now I will be bringing Natsuhi and Kakashi with me to the Hyuga compound. I need Hinata's account of what happened."

Sakura nodded in understanding and took her leave, but not before giving Kakashi an encouraging smile. The pink haired girl exited the recovery room and ventured down the long corridor. She was still filthy and drenched in sweat, 'Bathtub here I come…' When she caught Sumaru and Hokuto's attention she gave them a wave, not willing to stop and chat. They were supervising the children who had been placed in their own wing of the hospital.

Outside she was tempted to bolt straight home, but she stopped herself. 'I can't do that. I need to tell Tama…' She felt her throat clench nervously, 'I don't want her to have a heart attack…but not telling her and letting her find out on her own is worse. Of course, Sato is alive and that's what counts…maybe I can play this down a little?' Sakura knew how her friend would feel upon learning her fiancée had been brutalized earlier that day.

Familiar with Tama's schedule, Sakura went for the bakery first, and found the older girl stocking shelves. Her teammate smiled when she walked in, "Sakura! You're back!"

Sakura nodded, "Yeah! I know it took us a while, right?"

Tama brushed confectioner's sugar from her hands, "That couldn't be helped. How did it go? Did Kakashi-sensei and Sato enjoy themselves?"

"They did." Sakura refrained from adding, Up until they were throttled by the Akatsuki, they were having a delightful, light-hearted race!

"I bet you and Hinata-chan did too!" Tama smiled, blissfully unaware, "Did you stop by to tell me about it? I'll take my break now in that case…"

"Actually…I was going to ask you to stop by the hospital." Sakura chose her words carefully, "Sato got banged up on the way home so…I thought it would be good for you to check on him."

"Oh! What happened?"

Sakura bit her lip, 'Shit.'

Thankfully, Tama wasn't desperate for an answer, and she untied her apron.

"Sure, I'll go see him now!" Tama decided, "I hope he isn't terribly hurt. Which room is he in?"

"I left him in 105, on the first floor to the left." Sakura informed her, trying to play it off, "I'm going home to rest now. I'll catch up with you in the morning, if that's alright. Do you want to meet at the teahouse?"

"That's fine with me." Tama agreed, and she shouted into a storeroom, "Ami! Watch the store for me! I'm taking my break now!"

A distant, Got it! answered. Tama followed Sakura out the door and then thanked her for the heads-up. Sakura walked down the street, stiff-kneed and guilty, 'Oh man…I didn't prepare her for what she's going to see. I'm an asshole. Asshole. NO. It was better not to break it to her then…right? Ugh!' She jogged home, mentally berating herself the whole way.

She let herself in the house and was relieved to find no one was home. Sakura removed her boots, threw her travel bag into her room and then made a beeline for the bathroom. She drew a hot bath, scrubbing herself first, and then relaxed for the first time in days. 'Tama...I'm sorry. I know how I would feel if anything ever happened to Gaara.' Although she did acknowledge how her boyfriend was unlikely to come to harm, 'I guess I'm just a chicken, when it gets down to it…I didn't want to see you sad. Some friend I am…'

When she was refreshed and dressed again in pajamas, Sakura shuffled in her slippers down the hall, intending to make tea. She never made it to the kitchen. Instead she flopped down on the sofa and groaned tiredly, 'I just can't move anymore!' She stayed there, immobile and useless. Her father had returned with a shopping bag and a newspaper. He took one look at Sakura and then frowned, "Hey…"

"Hi Dad." She croaked.

The look on her face said it all. Kizashi immediately could tell she had been through the wringer.

"Sakura," He put his items down on a table, "Are you lucky to be alive after completing that mission?"

She nodded groggily.

Kizashi walked behind the couch and reached, patting Sakura on the top of her head, "I'm glad you're home then, Sakura."

"Thanks Dad…uh…can we please not tell Mom?"

"Let's not."

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A/N: Hey you made it! Thanks for reading. Your review is truly appreciated. :)

Chapter 15- The Most Diverse