AN: Don't own. This will largely be AU.

Suna Desert

Hisoka moved himself into a more comfortable position as he waited. Well, as comfortable as one could be in the hottest place in the world. Not for the first time did Hisoka thank whomever designed the Suna Shinobi attire.

A wrapping around his neck and head ensured protection against the sun's harmful rays along with protection from the desert wind. His flak jacket, colored like sand to blend into the environment, was like any other Suna ninja's jacket though he opted to remove the shoulder guards. While others thought the shoulder guards would increase their intimidation factor, Hisoka preferred to let his skill handle it. His pants were light and breezy allowing for unrestricted movement. The pants ended around his calf, the rest of his legs and feet were covered with wrappings. Overall, it was the best outfit to wear when walking through the desert.

Hisoka looked up at the sky as he waited. It had been a while, they should have already been back by now. He had tracked the three Iwa jonin for most of the day, easily catching up with them due to his familiarity with the area. His Grandmother had been right, the sandstorm had stalled them for a couple days and it seemed they were still recovering. The Iwa-nin had taken to making camp for the day in the middle of two sand dunes and were talking to themselves too quietly for Hisoka to catch. Hisoka strained his eyes as he tried to take in everything he could of their campsite. He kept a safe distance from the three enemy ninjas lest he was seen and subsequently caught.

He'd have to infiltrate their camp in order to secure the weapon but that's what the problem was and that's why he was waiting. Since Hisoka caught their tail, he'd seen nothing that would resemble anything close to a weapon. While it could have been in a storage scroll, based on what the Suna council told him it would make more sense if they just had it out. The power of the weapon would be very difficult to hold in a storage scroll alone. A sealing container would work but, again, he had seen nothing that resembled one. He had seen one of them carrying a sack but it was nondescript, not even worth looking at.

One thing was clear, before he could do anything he needed more information.

Hisoka hummed a soft tune that Chiyo used to sing to him when he was young as he waited. Mindlessly reorienting his forehead protector as he watched the skies.

Finally. A bird shaped figure in the sky began to descend and landed on Hisoka's shoulder.

Ruffling the bird's feathers Hisoka asked, "How was it? Were you seen?"

The owl shook itself to get its feathers under control and huffed, "Every time I see you you mess with my feathers and everyone back home tease me for it. But no, I was not seen. The morons were too busy getting their meal together to notice me."

"Well, that's good. Did you see anything that might be this mysterious weapon?"

"It's moronic that your leaders did not tell you what the weapon is," Hisoka gave a hum of agreement. "However, I did see where there might be a weapon hidden. In the campsite, towards their supplies, is a bag with sealing tags all over it. I can't tell for sure if it's the weapon but it's the only thing there that might be."

Hisoka rubbed the side of his head, "You're probably right as you guys usually are," at this the small owl puffed its chest up. "Could you tell the overall health the three thieves?"

The brown owl looked over towards the camp, "Two of them are largely uninjured though look exhausted from being in the middle of a sandstorm for two days and the desert for even longer."

"That's good for us and the third?"

"Close to death. I'm not sure what happened to him but he looks to have been mauled, the bandages I could see are completely red, and he looked to be shivering."

Hisoka's eyebrows furrowed, "Could be an attack from one of the desert animals and he got unlucky?"

The owl gave what amounted to a shrug and said, "Maybe, or maybe it was the weapon they stole."

"Trying to figure out what happened to him won't help us," stated Hisoka with a groan.

The owl looked to Hisoka, "What will you do then?"

"Wait till nightfall, from what you've reported they'll be here through the night. I can infiltrate their campsite, neutralize the enemy, and secure the weapon. Did you happen to see any traps while you were flying around?"

The owl shook its head in the negative.

"I'll watch where I step then. Thank you for your help, please tell everyone I said hello."

"Always a pleasure helping you Hisoka, the Owls of the Mite Forest will be there to provide aid and wisdom should you need it." At this the owl vanished and was followed by a soft pop.

Hisoka looked towards the campsite, he was lucky that the Iwa shinobi were heavily injured or exhausted. Taking on three jonin by himself would have been somewhat tricky but if he had a team it would have gone smoothly. He sighed, no sense in getting caught up in what could be or what should be. All he had to do was wait until they were asleep, and everything would follow from there.

Unknown

No one cared about him. Not a single person. He was used to it though. He was ignored by his father and his own siblings seemed to as well. He had no one. They were all terrified of him.

He knew no one was going to save him and so did his kidnappers. During the early days of his captivity, his jailors kept mocking him about how no one cared enough about him to send a rescue. But as time grew on his kidnappers grew silent as they attempted to navigate through the desert.

He tried to escape, though he didn't know where he would go, many times. The closest he got was when the sandstorm hit. The kidnappers were seemingly unaware of the incoming storm if their panicked mutterings were any indication. While they were attempting to set up a structure, they set him and the bag he was in on the ground, ignoring him.

He was able to get his hands out of the rope they were tied up in and from there it was only a matter getting out of the opening towards the top of the bag. By the time his kidnappers realized he had gotten loose of his bonds, he was already running into the desert.

Only one chased after him, the other two stayed near their shelter. The shinobi's longer legs allowed him to catch with the running child.

"Nuh-uh uh uh," the Shinobi shook his head, "Good demons don't run off like that. Now, you're coming wi-"

The shinobi's words were replaced with a blood-curling yell as he was assaulted by a huge cat like creature. The giant cat was the color of sand and seemed to have no trouble walking on the shifting earth. The cat's incisors were dripping some sort a vaguely purple liquid.

The boy watched as his captor's arm was brutally ripped with the shinobi being tossed around like a ragdoll. He couldn't help the grim satisfaction at seeing his captor being put in his place but was disappointed when his other captors made quick work of the sand cat. He and the now severely injured shinobi were brought back to the shelter right before the sandstorm picked up.

He was glad when they stopped for the day. Traveling in a sack did not help him sleep in the slightest. Not that it was any different from regular life, he never slept anyway.

He overheard his captors mention that they were only a day or so away from Iwagakure and that their companion would not be able to make the journey. He wondered if Iwagakure was a nice place or rather if it had people who would truly see him not just a monster.

Sadly, his hopeful thoughts did not last long as he heard muffled cries and dragging across the sand. He couldn't help it when his heart sped up and his thoughts started racing. He struggled against his bonds to no avail, they had secured him far better than they had before. What if someone was here to kill him? What if it was his father, disappointed that he didn't escape? What if-

His thoughts were cut off when the top of the sack opened and he was forced to squint as the brightness of the stars shined onto him.

Chiyo and Ebizo's Fish Pond

Chiyo looked over at her brother, "Ebizo."

Ebizo kept looking at the pond intent on hooking a fish.

"Hmm?" Came the distracted reply.

Chiyo was pensive while she spoke, "Why do you think Rasa asked us not to tell Hisoka that it was Rasa's youngest child that was taken from the village?"

Ebizo gave a quick jerk of his pole, his anticipation building and then plummeting- nothing, again.

"I'm not sure, Sister," came Ebizo's reply as he casted his reel. "Perhaps Rasa was trying to save face by not letting Hisoka know that it was his son that was taken, his shame making him stay quiet?"

"True, Rasa is a very proud man," Chiyo snorted then muttered something about ego and its relation to a man's manhood.

Ebizo let out a disappointed sigh as another fish unhooked itself. Chiyo chuckled, commenting that perhaps the fish were simply outsmarting him today. At that the man scowled.

"Why do you care anyway, Chiyo, why Rasa often excludes information when giving out a mission."

Chiyo watched as Ebizo casted his line once more as she thought. Her brother was right, they had seen many Kazekage exclude information when giving out missions. Often times it was unnecessary to the mission, so it was never an issue but to not tell a shinobi what they were after. That was different.

Chiyo couldn't help the slight frown, her grandson was highly skilled and more than capable but if Rasa's pride got him killed while retrieving that boy. Well, not even Kami would save Rasa when she got to him.

She was shaken from her thoughts at a triumphant cry.

"Look, Big Sister!" It was obvious that Ebizo was ecstatic over his catch and was holding it up as if he had caught the world's biggest fish.

Chiyo held down the amused smile, no need to get his ego up, as she looked at the fish. It was quite still for a fish fresh out of water, usually they would still be moving as they fought to return to the water.

Hold on.

Chiyo looked closer at the fish and couldn't help what followed next.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Ebizo's proud smile diminished when he heard his sister's loud laughter and blinked in shock as he watched tears run down her face. He grew concerned when it seemed that she wouldn't be able to catch her breath.

Ebizo couldn't help but ask when Chiyo's laughing fit ended, "What's so funny?"

"Eb-HaHaHa-Ebi-HaHa-Ebizo, have you even looked at the fish?" Chiyo could barely speak as she rubbed the tears out of her eyes.

Ebizo frowned, "What? No, not yet. I-" He couldn't finish his thought before Chiyo began laughing again.

Why was she laughing so hard? What was wrong with his fish? He didn't look at it because he had spent the past 2 hours trying catch a fish all while dealing with Chiyo's sarcastic comments. It wasn't his fault he wanted to prove that he was smarter than a fish, not that he should have to anyway- he was absolutely smarter than a fish.

Ebizo shook his head at his sister, determined to enjoy his catch, and looked at the specimen. His eyes widened in shock and it all came clear to him.

The fish was dead.

Somehow, he had caught a dead fish. Ebizo lowered his head in defeat and set his pole to the side. He ignored Chiyo as her laughter grew louder. He sighed; fishing was dumb anyway.