Chapter 2

Akari slowly regained consciousness. Opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was the sky. She watched it for a moment before noticed that it was moving. No…she was! Blinking, she felt a pair of arms cradling her like a child. When she looked to her left she saw that she was passing through the village. Finally, she turned to face the boy who held her in his arms. His eyes looked very bored as if he wished he were somewhere else.

"This is such a drag. Couldn't you have fallen asleep in your own house?" He smirked at her.

"Shikamaru? How…what happened." She blinked in surprise.

"I was walking by when I found you asleep under a tree near the cemetery. Quite a morbid place for you to take a nap."

Akari thought back to her last memory. Naruto…Riko…Kakashi…and then…GAARA!

"Put me down! I need to see the Hokage!" She cried out.

He didn't protest as she squirmed out of his grip. She was about to run to find Lady Tsunade when she took a closer look at the sky. It looked as if she had only been asleep a few minutes. Confused, she turned back to Shikamaru. He was watching her with slight amusement.

"How long was I out?"

"How should I know? I just found you a few minutes ago. I tried waking you, but when that didn't work I decided to take you to the hospital and have Ino look at you." He yawned.

"Well, how long ago did Naruto get back? Like an hour ago right?" She asked.

Shikamaru gave her a weird look. He then pointed to a calendar hanging on the window of a nearby shop. Akari's eyes widened in surprise. Walking up to it, she tore it down and stared at the date.

"Two days! I've been asleep for two days!" She gasped.

Slowly the shock wore away. It was quickly replaced with anger.

"I'm going to kill him! That bastard is so dead!"

She crumpled the calendar in her hand. The store owner began to complain but changed his mind once it caught fire. In seconds, the paper was engulfed in flames and was replaced by ashes. Shikamaru took a step back, but seemed amused by her anger.

"Who exactly do you want dead?" He rose an eyebrow.

"That's not important. There's no time for me to see the Hokage now. Find her and tell her there's an emergency in the Hidden Sand. Let her know that I've gone ahead and she needs to send a team after me immediately."

Shikamaru gave her another odd look.

"She's already aware. She sent Team Kakashi just yesterday. Team Gai was sent as backup. How did you know about it?" He stared at her.

So Naruto was already on his way. She sighed in relief. He could handle this right? And if it is the Akatsuki, then Kakashi can keep an eye on him. Sakura and Neji will be there too. They'll save Gaara and everything will be okay. Once Gaara is safe, she would find Itachi and beat him to a pulp.

"Nevermind. That means they don't need me. I'm going home and tell my parents I'm okay. Speaking of which, I'm a little peeved that Riko didn't find me sooner!"

Her brother should've realized she was missing! She was asleep for two freaking day! How did that go unnoticed!

"Actually, he's gone. He was sent out with his squad of Genin on a C Rank mission." Shikamaru informed her.

Well that explained it. And anyone passing by would just think she was taking a nap. But still. Two days? Itachi went overboard. Couldn't he have just kindly told her to stay put?

Well, there was the note. And she did kind of ignore it. He must've sent the crow, knowing she would disobey him. That man knew her a little too well. A part of her understood why he did it. If she had gone running, the Akatsuki would've of seen her. That didn't help their plan. Still, that didn't keep her from being pissed.

Sighing, she stared at the boy in front of her. Then she noticed someone missing.

"Hey! Did Temari already go home?" She asked.

"Yeah. She woke up extremely early. It was such a drag." He sighed.

"You could've stayed asleep. I'm sure she knew where the front gate was by now." She smirked at him.

"It was my job to escort her. Though it was a huge drag, I made sure she left safely." He rose an eyebrow at her.

Akari only grinned. She knew the real reason he woke up early that day. Just about all of the girls did. She had had a lengthy conversation with Ino and Sakura about it one day. It was obvious after all. Though he complained, they knew he had no problem with keeping the Hidden Sand Kunoichi company.

Rolling his eyes, Shikamura said goodbye and walked off. Akari laughed at his expression. Still giggling she headed home. She hadn't seen her parents in a couple of days. It wasn't uncommon. Riko and she hardly ever stayed with them anymore. They spent most of their time outside the village on missions.

Their parents understood. If they kept busy, they didn't have time for their thoughts. In the past three years their pain has lessened, but it never left. Their missions kept them from thinking about it too much.

Once she was home, her family greeting her kindly. Her mother insisted on having a big dinner together. Though Riko wasn't home, they were glad to have her there. It was rare for all four of them to eat together. Choosing not to worry about her friends, she enjoyed their company.

The next couple of days were easy going. She didn't have any assignments so was able to spend time with her parents. They were very excited to have her around for so long. Riko was still away but made sure to send a message when he could. It was one of their agreements. This way they could make sure the other was alright.

Then Naruto and the others made it home. She was glad to hear that Gaara was alright. He had lost the One-tails but that didn't matter to her. He was alive. Kakashi had come back injured, but she had made sure to visit him when she could. Sakura had even told her that they had found information on Orochimaru's whereabouts. This made her hopeful. It meant they were closer to Sasuke.

It was late one night that her peace was broken. She was on her way home with groceries cradled in her arms. As she reached her house she stopped. Someone was watching her from the shadows. Though she couldn't see him, she sensed he was there. Akari knew who it was, and it brought back the memory of her encounter with the Root.

She thought back to the first few months. It had been hard and the two siblings had trained non-stop. If she wasn't with Itachi, she was with Kakashi or Shun. If she wasn't training she was on a mission. She was only ever home to sleep, but was gone as soon as she woke.

One day, she had been working on the chidori with Kakashi. It was the first time she had managed to pull it off. As soon as Kakashi left, she was approached by an old man. His right eyes was bandaged and his right arm was hidden in his robes. As soon as he introduced himself, she grew suspicious.

Danzo, leader and founder of the Root. Lady Tsunade had warned her of him. She had said that he would try to recruit her and she was right. He had asked her to join his organization. Today, she would have rejected him without hesitation. Back then, it had been hard. What he offered sounded so tempting at the time.

Being a member of the Root meant relieving yourself of all emotions. Not just on missions, but all the time. You felt no sadness, regret, empathy, anger. Pain. None of it. She so badly wanted to get rid of the pain. That's why she had agreed to giving it a shot.

Without telling the Hokage, she met Danzo and the A.N.B.U under his command. She was introduced to a boy hardly older than her. His pale face was blank as she shook his hand. Danzo ordered her to fight him in front of the other members. She remembered being surround by dozens of ninja, their faces hidden behind masks.

Akari wasn't intimidated though. She was already so close to feeling nothing at all. Without thinking she threw herself into the fight. She fought hard against her opponent. He was tough, but she was tougher. Akari didn't hold back. Every punch she landed, every kick, was without mercy. In minutes she had him pressed under her knees, her katana at his throat. His nose and mouth were bleeding. Bruises were begging to surface on his beaten body. She smirked down at him knowing she had won. He gazed at her with no emotion whatsoever making her uneasy. Her smile faded.

"Kill him."

Akari had stared at Danzo in shock. She turned back to the boy but his face never even twitched.

"I…I can't do that. He's a Leaf ninja. He's one of your members!" She shook her head.

"He lost. He's of no use to me. You are. Secure your place in our organization. Kill him."

Akari glanced down at the boy. He was watching her with expressionless eyes. As if he couldn't care less that he was about to die. Danzo had thrown him aside and declared him worthless. Still he didn't react. He only lay their waiting for his fate.

"Do this and you never have to worry about the pain again." Danzo whispered in her ear.

Her grip tightened on her Katana. Biting her lip she pressed her weapon against the boy's throat. She was desperate. The pain was becoming too much to bear. She needed this release. She wanted it!

Her hand twitched and a thin line of blood appeared on his neck. Startled, Akari dropped her katana. She picked herself up and stepped back in disgust. Was she really capable of something like this? If Mizuko could see her now would she even recognize her? The thought was too much to bear. She could almost feel her sister's eyes watching her with disappointment.

She wouldn't do this. She couldn't! Even if it meant living with pain for the rest of her life. Gritting her teeth, she faced Danzo.

"I won't do it! This…this is gruesome and cold-blooded! What kind of people are you?" She accused.

"Were the kind of people this village needs! We do what others are too weak to accomplish! Unlike your precious A.N.B.U, the ones who work under our weak-minded Hokage, we do what needs to be done! It's thanks to us that the monsters outside our village haven't burned us to the ground!"

Danzo glared at her. The other ninja surrounding them didn't move. Akari turned to them in disbelief. They were all okay with this. They all blindly followed this crazy old man without complaint. Without questioning his methods or beliefs. She shook her head in disgust.

"The only monster I see is you. Your intentions may be honorable but your actions clearly aren't. You were willing to see your own member die at my hands. You may be protecting this village but your methods are beyond noble. I'm leaving."

Without another word she picked up her weapon. The boy hadn't moved. Akari stared at him for a moment before turning her back on the Root. They watched her go and she could feel their cold eyes boring into her back.

She hadn't thought about that day since. Until now.

"What do you want?" she asked the shadows.

"Danzo wishes to speak to you." A voice sounded from the darkness.

"Yeah well, I don't feel like talking."

"Either you go to him or he comes to you."

Akari wasn't keen on having Danzo over for dinner. She didn't want him anywhere near her family. With a heavy sigh she left the groceries on her doorstep and walked into the shadow. She found him waiting to lead him to his leader. Akari stared at his pale face for moment before letting out a small chuckle. The boy only blinked.

"So he chose to send you. How fitting." She muttered.

"I'm to escort you now." He said bluntly.

"Yeah? Well lead the way…um…what do they call you?" She asked.

"Sai."

"I'm surprised to see you alive Sai. I figured he would've killed you after you lost."

"I proved to be useful to him after all. Apparently I'm not as weak-minded as others."

He gave her a creepy forced smile. Akari nearly flinched.

"You need to work on your social skills buddy. And just because I chose not to kill you, which I could easily have done, doesn't make me weak-minded. Weak-minded is believing the sayings of a bat-shit crazy old man."

"You're speaking ill of my leader. Are you sure that's wise?" Sai took a step closer.

"What are you going to do? Kill me? You and I both know you can't. Number one, your precious leader clearly needs me for something. Number two, you wouldn't be able to even if you tried. I bet I'm still capable of throwing you on your back."

Akari watched for any sign of emotion on the boy's face. There was nothing. She continued trying to push his buttons. She wanted to know what it took to piss him off.

"I mean, why else would Danzo come to me instead of you. Maybe you're not as useful as you think. He needs the help of someone outside his precious Root, because you're not enough. That's a little sad isn't it? He clearly still believes I'm of more use to him than you. Even after I rejected him."

Sai removed his tip-less tanto from his back and swiped at her. Pulling out her katana, the two weapons met in the middle. Akari pressed her sword against his, their faces inches apart. He still didn't show any emotion. She scoffed in irritation. The two shinobi stared at each other, neither showing any sign of backing down.

"Come on Sai. Whatever it is he wants, he doesn't trust you with it. It's a little sad isn't it? You would think that you would've proven useful after all these years. I figured that's why he kept you alive, but then why come to me? What good are you to him Sai?"

"You can try to goad me all you want. This is all the reaction you'll get from me. I understand that Danzo keeps me around for his purposes only. As soon as he's threw with me I'm as good as dead. All of the Root has accepted this. We exist to carry out his will. That is all. If he wants me to escort a pathetic, feeble girl, incapable of dealing with collateral damage, then I will do it."

"So you saw yourself as collateral damage?" She muttered.

"At the time yes. If I couldn't beat someone as weak as you, then I deserved to die."

"And now?" She questioned.

"Let's just say I don't plan on dying anytime soon."

Sai leaped back, landing a few feet away. He gave her his creepy smile and it took all her strength not to shudder. What was it with the Root members? To think she had almost become one of them. The boy put away his tanto, and akari sheathed her katana.

"Danzo doesn't like to be kept waiting. Follow me."

Akari rolled her eyes and ran after him. They stayed hidden in the shadows unseen by anyone. Moments later they made their way into Root Headquarters. The man she had come to see waited for her. Once they stood in front of him, Sai disappeared.

"Why am I here Danzo?" She asked in irritation.

"Team Kakashi is going on a mission in 5 days." He said.

"Okay. What does that have to do with me?"

"Kakashi is unable to go due to his injuries. Tsunade is assigning a different squad leader for the time being." He stared at her.

"Get to the point. I'd like to be home for dinner."

"They are also missing a fourth member, seeing as how the Uchiha turned traitor."

Akari's hand twitched. The old man was beginning to grow tiresome.

"I would like you to take his place on this mission." He stated.

"Why? What's the mission? And why me?" She rose an eyebrow.

"It seems that they are meeting with a subordinate of Orochimaru. I need you to be there so that you can deliver a note."

"A note. To who?" She was turning suspicious.

"Orochimaru of course. The note is only a reuse. Once he believes that I am siding with him, he will take you to his hideout. There you should find Sasuke Uchiha."

"What are you getting at Danzo? What do you want with Sasuke?"

Akari didn't like this one bit. Danzo rose an eyebrow as if she already knew the answer. She did.

"You will kill him. Plain and simple. He's a traitor and the fact that he's an Uchiha makes him even more dangerous."

"This is the second time you've asked me to kill someone. And I'm giving you the same answer. No." She glared at him.

"Akari…"

"I said no. He isn't a traitor. He's done nothing to hurt this village. His squad will find him and bring him back. I won't hurt their chances by killing him. Why come to me for this. You could send one of your own."

"Interesting fact about me. I know everything about the people who interest me." He stared at her.

Akari froze. Everything?

"There's something about you that eludes me though. Something familiar. I can't quite place my finger on it. Doesn't matter though, I will figure it out."

He watched her reaction. Akari kept her face blank.

"But I do know one thing. I know that you are close to Kakashi's squad. Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno right? They trust you and would never suspect you." He continued.

She opened her mouth to speak. He silenced her with a wave of his hand.

"Not to mention your feelings for the Uchiha. You love him and from what I hear, he feels the same. He won't hesitate in letting you in. This is what makes you useful to me. There are also your skills of course. I'm aware that you've trained with Kakashi same as Sasuke. I believe that you're the only one capable of putting him down."

"If you know that I love him than what made you think I would agree to this?" She growled.

Danzo had been keeping a close eye on her. It made her uneasy. He knew this much, so what kept him from finding out more.

"Your loyalty to this village. How do you know Sasuke hasn't changed? Orochimaru has probably corrupted him by now. If Sasuke were to attack today would you stand by and let him?"

Akari hesitated. Immediately she pushed away her doubts. He wouldn't bend to Orochimaru's will. He was better than that!

"He is not a traitor! I won't do it!" She turned to leave.

"Sai." Danzo muttered.

Akari prepared herself for a fight. She pulled out her kunai and faced the boy. Sai merely appeared from the shadows and dropped to his knee at Danzo's side. Her eyes flitted from the two of them.

"It seems your were wrong boy. She isn't the one I needed." The man said.

Sai nodded. Akari stared at the boy in confusion.

"You see. He's the one that has been watching you. What better way to motivate a boy than having him spy on the one who nearly cost him his life. Sai here, gave me all the information I have on you. Though he hasn't been able to figure out where you disappear to so frequently. It was his idea to send you."

"What? But I didn't kill you! A stranger! You honestly believed I could kill a friend?" She said in disbelief.

"As an A.N.B.U you are able to kill enemies without remorse. Being a Root means killing people you may know. Innocents if you must. I think you are capable of this because I saw the blood-lust in your eyes as you held the katana at my throat. But you are choosing to repress that side of you. I wanted to give you a chance to release it. Who better for you to kill than the boy you love who turned traitor. Guess I expected too much from you."

"I would never kill an innocent. And Sasuke Uchiha is an innocent.

"You are letting your feelings for him cloud your judgment. Sasuke Uchiha is a low-life. He is no longer a shinobi of the Leaf.

Sai gave her his creepy smile. Akari nearly lunged at him but kept her cool. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of losing control.

"I've decided Sai, that you will join Team Kakashi as I had originally planned. You will be the one to kill the Uchiha."

The boy nodded. He never dropped his face smile.

"I won't allow it. I'll warn Naruto." Akari said through gritted teeth.

"You won't do that. If you interfere ill make sure you brother doesn't make it home alive." Danzo glared.

Akari's blood turned cold. She took a step back in fear.

"Wh..what? Riko is away. You can't touch him." She whispered.

"Oh but I can. A Root member is tailing him and his squad as we speak. If I say the word, they are dead. Are you willing to risk it Akari?" Danzo threatened.

Akari's face fell. She knew he was serious. Danzo wasn't one for idle threats. As much as she loved Sasuke, she couldn't handle loosing another sibling. She had to trust that Naruto could save Sasuke. She turned to Sai.

"This mission of yours is a waste of time. Naruto won't let you anywhere near him."

"I think I can handle him. From what I hear, he's an idiot." Sai continued smiling.

"You're not the first to underestimate him. And you won't be the last."

"What If I do manage to get past him?"

"If that happens, then there's only one way I see this ending."

"Oh? And hows that?" He asked innocently.

"With Sasuke's Chidori protruding through your chest." She warned.

Sai's face twitched. It was brief but she saw it. He was worried. This gave her great satisfaction. A part of her wanted him to meet Sasuke. Plenty of emotions will be crossing his face if he does. They would be his last.

"You better pray Naruto stops you first. He's more merciful than the traitorous Uchiha."

With a small wave of her hand she walked away.

Akari wanted so badly to go running to the Hokage. She knew better. Danzo most certainly had people watching her. She could feel their eyes on her back. With a sigh, she went home. She wouldn't risk her brother's life. Akari would leave Sasuke in Naruto's hands for now.