Chapter 22

The Sand siblings walked with Akari as she left their village. Once outside she waved goodbye and began her journey home. In her bag she held a signed contract from the Kazekage. Once it was in Lady Tsunade's hands the Alliance would be official. It was important that it got there safely. The Hidden Sand had offered to send someone with her but she had kindly declined. She would get home faster on her own.

Akari chose to take the route closer to the water. Hopefully she wouldn't run into any trouble and it would be a quiet trip. She kept an easy pace and kept a sharp eye for anyone trying to stop the alliance. She didn't think some of the other villages agreed with it. Two large lands coming together could be a dangerous threat.

The first day was slow going. She had to go south for a while before she would reach the water. From there she would turn left and head straight home. First she had to make through a lot of desert. It was hot and uncomfortable, which she was clearly not used to. At one point she had to stop and shield herself from a passing sandstorm. Finally she saw trees and grass. As she got closer she could see the ocean.

Smiling she turned in the direction of home. On the second day she made it into the Land of Fire. Before long she could see the Land of Waves. She wouldn't be going through it this time, but she was glad to see the Great Naruto Bridge. She was beginning to believe that she would get to Konoha without incident.

The Third day was when they hit her. She was hours from reaching the Hidden Leaf Village and making progress along the shore. She had avoided the trees to save herself from an ambush. It didn't help her any. Four ninjas from the Hidden Rain appeared in her path and they weren't friendly. She wondered how they had gotten the information about the contract.

"Hello there. I'm on urgent business, so unless you want to get your ass kicked, I suggest you get out of my way." She glared at them.

"Look at this. A little girl playing A.N.B.U. That mask seems a little too big for you doesn't it?" The taller one snickered.

Akari bristled at the comment. She would show them just how "little" she was. Reaching behind her, she pulled out her katana. Laughing, the ninja pulled out their own weapons. They seemed very confident. Akari smirked under her mask. She wouldn't even need her sharingan.

The first made his move and came at her with kunais in hand. Akari dodged his weak attempts and sliced his chest. Blood splattered on her arms and mask as he fell dead in the sand.

"Next." She said menacingly.

The other two must have thought they had a better chance together. One disappeared while the other thought he could distract her with shuriken. She merely deflected them and stabbed backwards. Her katana made contact with the one who had disappeared. He thought he could sneak up on her and attack from behind. She smiled as she felt him slump forward and the warmth of his blood dripped on her back.

Stepping forward she slid her katana out his body and looked over her shoulder. He died with his face frozen in shock. Yawning loudly she faced the last. He looked about ready to make a run for it. His eyes darted from her to his fallen comrades. It wasn't long before he bolted. Akari sighed and put away her katana. With a few quick hand signs she sent fireballs at his back. She watched as they made contact and he fell face first, lifeless.

"Well that was a waste of time." She muttered.

She noticed movement out on the water. A large ship wasn't too far from the shore. Using her sharingan she took a closer look. There were a few people on the deck. One seemed weak as if injured. She recognized the chakra and realized it was Team Kakashi. She also recognized Ibiki. He was pointing behind her. She nodded for she already knew what it was. Turning slowly she faced the many ninja coming out of the trees.

"Huh, that's certainly more than before." She sighed.

"Hand over the contract." One growled.

"You Hidden Rain sure are persistent. Why don't you just slink back into the forest and go home. You're not getting the contract." She rolled her eyes.

With her sharingan she counted at least 50. Were they really this against the alliance? They hadn't even had any recent issues with Hidden Rain lately. Behind her she could see many ninja jumping from the ship. She hadn't sensed that many before?

Not wanting to wait, the enemy ninja rushed her. She met them head on and took out many on her own. Then not one but 10 Narutos joined the fight. Then Sakura. She nodded her thanks and vanished. Using her Transparency technique she kept the contract safe and was able to kill in deadly silence. At one point she had to show herself again because the blood spraying on her clothing was giving her away. That was okay, by then the three of them had finished them off. Grabbing the last one she threw him to the ground and pressed her knee into his stomach. He struggled to get up but she plunged her kunai into this heart. Slowly, she rose and faced her friends.

They were watching her uneasily. Sakura shifted from foot to foot clearly uncomfortable. Akari was confused until she looked down at herself. Blood was splattered all over her clothes and hands. Taking a look around she saw that her friends hadn't killed all of their enemies, only knocked them out. She had.

"A.N.B.U really are something…I don't even think you needed our help." Naruto said.

"I'm thankful for it anyways." She smiled at him, then she realized he couldn't see her face.

"Ibiki told us you were from the Hidden Leaf so we came to assist you." Sakura muttered.

They told her to follow them back to the ship so she did. She could take her mask off there so no enemy ninja could see. A part of her didn't want to. Unlike them she had been ruthless. Itachi had told her she couldn't do things half-assed. Leaving an enemy alive came with risks. Risks caused problems. Her friends obviously thought differently, making her nervous. What would they think when they saw her?

Once on board she walked to up to their injured teammate. He didn't look to good. Sasuke eyed her suspiciously as she approached. Again she almost chickened out, but she wanted them to know.

"What's an A.N.B.U doing out here?" He glared.

Akari could tell he was upset. About what she wasn't sure, but he might be willing to tell her. With her mask off that is. She didn't think he trusted A.N.B.U much. She understood. Hesitantly she removed her mask. Her friend's eyes widened. She heard Sakura gasp loudly.

"A mission same as you. I take it you guys are on your way back from the Land of Tea?" She asked Naruto.

He nodded with his mouth hanging open. For once he was speechless. All three of them were.

"The Hokage told me that I might see you running along the shore. She said you had an important document that needed to reach her soon." Ibiki told her.

So it wasn't pure coincidence. He had been keeping an eye out for her. Reaching into her bag she pulled out the contract. He informed her that they were 30 minutes away from docking. From there they will travel on foot for about 3 hours until they reached the village. With that he took the contract with him down below for safe keeping.

"You're an A.N.B.U?" Sakura asked once they were alone.

"This was a trail mission. Lady Tsunade will tell me whether I stay on once I arrive." Akari told her.

"I don't see why you wouldn't. You annihilated those ninja. And we saw you take on the first three without breaking a sweat!" Naruto muttered.

"I knew that it's what you wanted but I assumed you gave up on it after he…" Sasuke didn't meet her eyes.

"He what? Who are you talking about?" Sakura asked.

"It's no one." Akari frowned. "Being an A.N.B.U is important to me but not for the reason you think. I worked hard to get to where I am and I won't let the past stop me."

She then turned away from Sasuke and asked Sakura to show her where the restroom was. The blood on her body was beginning to dry. She didn't want to get home a total mess. The girl nodded and led the way. Sakura waited outside the door as she cleaned up. Akari quietly dressed in fresh clothes.

"An A.N.B.U huh. I guess if fits." Sakura said through the door.

"I felt it was better for me."Akari muttered.

Honestly she almost gave up on it like Sasuke said. After Itachi murdered his own clan, a part of her was afraid of A.N.B.U. While at the academy her only goal was to graduate. Then she would do as her siblings did because she had no plans of her own. Then she was placed on Hayama sensei's squad. He had asked them all how far they wanted to go. Her siblings were content with just being Jonin.

She had answered the same but Hayama noticed she wasn't unsure. He spoke to her alone and managed to get the whole story. He then took her to the A.N.B.U corps. There she met Yugao and Tenzo. The two of them spent the day with her showing her the many things they did. They told her of how they fought with no hesitation. They killed ruthlessly and without mercy because Konoha needed ninja who were able to do what others couldn't. With every word they said she felt like its where she belonged. Fighting the way they did…it was a way to forget. The hurt she felt from Itachi's betrayal would fade. If she was busy fighting and killing for the village, she would have little time to think about him.

Akari had told Hayama her plans who agreed it's where she belonged. She couldn't handle the ways of the A.N.B.U. She didn't have to do as her siblings did. She would follow her own path. A path they couldn't take. Unlike them, Akari felt a dark part of her that needed to be satisfied. A very angry and bitter part. Sure, it meant letting go of some compassion and sympathy but not all of it. She would save some for friends and family. But when it came to her enemies, she would have no remorse.

After her decision, Hayama began helping her train for it. He asked Yugao to introduce her to Hayate who in turn taught her to use a katana. Yugao assisted often. She never really saw Tenzo again though. She had never even seen him without his mask.

In the end, Itachi wasn't what she thought. At first she was afraid that this would ruin her plans to become an A.N.B.U. She had nothing to be angry about now. Or so she thought. The Akatsuki angered her even more. She was no longer doing this due to Itachi, but for her friends. Naruto and Gaara would need her help. She needed to harden herself and due what others can't. Risks caused problems. Problems she wasn't willing to have.

"Akari!"

"Huh. What?" Akari blinked.

"I asked if you were done. Were almost to the docks." Sakura said.

"Oh. Yeah. Be right out."

Akari walked back to the deck. Sakura went to Sasuke to check on his wounds. Naruto was leaning over the side as the docks came into view. She walked to him and could feel Sasuke's eyes on her every step of the way.

"Do you see me differently now?" She asked Naruto.

He stared at her for a moment before grinning.

"Nah! I know your still you. I was just surprised that you were capable of what you did out there. Being an A.N.B.U means being without mercy. I don't think I could do it, so I'm a little shocked that you can." He told her.

"It's challenging." She muttered. "But it's where I belong."

"As long as you don't lose yourself in it all." He placed a hand over hers.

"Don't worry. Its only when I wear the mask."

He nodded and gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. No matter what, he still saw her as a friend. Akari let out a sigh of relief. He didn't release her hand until the ship was docked. Now that they were on land, they prepared for the trek home.

"Alright, I'm going on ahead with the contract. The Hokage needs it as quickly as possible. I'll be able to get there sooner on my own. Akari, you will lead the Genin home. Just make sure to report back to Lady Tsunade once you get there." Ibiki ordered.

"Why doesn't she just take it? It's her mission isn't it?" Sasuke said coldly.

Akari flinched at his tone. Clearly he wasn't okay with her traveling with them. Naruto glared at him and Sakura seemed surprised.

"Because I'm sure word has gotten out that the contract is in the hands of a young A.N.B.U. I'm less likely to run in to trouble, so it's safer if I have it." Ibiki answered.

Akari nodded. The four of them watched him go before finishing up their preperations.

"Forget Sasuke, Akari! Im glad you're coming with us." Naruto told her.

She smiled at him. She glanced at Sasuke who was staring daggers at Naruto. He then met her eyes and stared for a moment before looking away. Was he really that against her being an A.N.B.U?

"Okay guys, let's head out. We've got three hours ahead of us." She ordered.

Sakura gave her backpack to Naruto who took it kindly. She then placed Sasukes arm on her shoulders for support. Though he had been healed some he was still fairly injured. Once ready, Sakura nodded at Akari. Turning in the direction of home, she led the way.