So, a month has gone by, and my aunt here as well as nothing of the worst happened yet, except one thing: my grandmother was hospitalized for pneumonia, but she always took care of herself. Except for the issues she has right now. Let's see if we can get her fixed for a longer life than now. :(

I've also been on a roll with "Allure of Darkness" if anyone noticed. XD

So tread carefully when you read this chapter. Major character death in here, and it won't be the end of it. Get a Kleenex box (as I always say) before you take the walkthrough.

Chapter Eleven

The Sword of a Heroine!

"You've never wielded a sword in your life - nothing bigger than your hands could hold."

His goading was mild, but it set her off all the same. Growling, blue chakra glowing about the blade, she brought it down against his which was a katana, and he used to wield one during his years in the Black Ops. He had discarded his cloak - though he had his disguise in place. They were outside once more where there was all the free space provided.

This is a good time to get my frustration out in the open.

Kurama sniggered and ran his claws across the bar of his cage. Gee, I wonder why.

She clenched her teeth. You enjoyed the show, haven't you?

Enough...and you were in too deep to notice his presence when you moaned his name like a wanton vixen. That's the first for you.

She felt her cheeks turn hot, praying they weren't red enough for Itachi to notice. Him and his bluntness! And if he kept this up, she would end up distracted before she had Itachi flat and down now that she had one of the most powerful blades in the palms of both hands. A chakra-charged steel that would cut through that Danzo and anyone else with him.

Thinking about how he had the Hyuuga clan swayed made her wonder how Hinata was, and Neji. If she knew them both, they disagreed but had no choice if they wanted to live.

Shikamaru would no doubt say everything was more of a drag than it used to be, and she had no idea about Choji or Shino.

Lee? Would he be so energetic and filled with springtime youth if his village was a warzone at a lot of corners? Would Tenten feel they could idly just sit by and endure this mess? She was sure Kiba would be barking more than Akamaru.

Sakura must have her hands full with a lot more dying than they deserved.

With each furious thought, Naru clashed with Itachi's sword, and with one more stroke, his was split cleanly in half. She was sweating bullets down her forehead and bared arms, and he was doing the same. Both fell to their knees, and that was a first to see the indomitable Uchiha down like that, giving her an ounce of victory and pride.

"You really have gotten stronger. Are you certain I didn't let you win?" he asked after a few pants of breath, then stood up just as she was doing so. "Or is it anger that caused you to be so relentless?"

Naru froze in her place and looked him square in the eyes, just as she felt a small river of perspiration glide between her eyes and over the right side of her nose, and his intense onyx eyes followed that trail. But it wasn't just because of the question in which he saw the reason behind her ferocious attacks.

It was also the sight of him, especially after last night. His sleeveless mesh shirt, the rippling muscles - and the swirling tattoos on both forearms, of the ANBU. Skin glistening softly, granted that he was used to being in every form of the weather by now so wasn't complaining or even wiping it away. It roused that feeling in her lower body if thinking about him last night and using Temari's present didn't help at all. Just a little.

"You're right. I'm angry - no, MAD as hell," Naru spat, chakra crackling and clashing with blue and red. "Because if I see my friends again, I have no idea what to even expect."

He nodded. "Try not to get your hopes too high or think too much. It's best you don't spend your time obsessing over it," he said as always, not much good with comforting words, just gonna say it like it was. Yeah, too much stress. And then he smiled as he extended a hand out to her, as an offer for hers; she held the sword with her left and gave him her right.

His slick skin against hers ignited yet another spark that became a bigger flame and coursed through her body. She could sense it off of him, too.

Above, a messenger hawk was on its way to Konoha at the same time a giant clay bird was making its way towards Suna.

~o~

"Un, lovebirds, we finally come back!" Deidara said as he lowered the bird to their rendezvous, after everything was settled and they were ready to get to work, and with barely three weeks ahead of them. "Do we have a lot to report to you! And Naru, girl, you look like you're back in business!" He whistled when he looked her over; was he finally seeing something besides his singular world of art or something?

And wait, he just said "lovebirds" - that had to be a joke or something. But she was tempted to agree with him...

"I sure am," Naru answered, grinning, then flaunting the hilt of the wakizashi behind her back. "I even got a brand new weapon: this here is the most famous blade in history that was held by the Sage of Six Paths himself. It's been held by the strongest of all Shinobi - notably the Second Hokage, the Third Tsuchikage, and Gaara's father, but it's to be wielded by Jinchuuriki only. It's been lost so many times only to be in the Sand Village the entire time. Now I have it here!"

Deidara's jaw dropped in utter disbelief while Kisame's eyes sparkled at the incredible amount of chakra Samehada could consume, but he was going to guess again. "I'm impressed," the shark man said. "I could look forward to the day my friend will devour your chakra..."

"No, Kisame," Itachi interrupted, getting onto the bird right after her, saving her from saying something snarky. Spoiling the fun. "So what intel do you have to report?"

That was when the air shifted to tension, alarm bells sounding off the worst.

"Well, we kept a low profile until we were hit in the faces. We not only came across Leaf Shinobi, but we also ran into a...certain someone who is definitely on your high end, Itachi," Deidara said, and his mouth was in a tight line. "He thought to put up a fight himself - before he brought forth a handful of his own at his disposal. Chick with red hair and glasses, another who got the Executioner's Blade and went toe-to-toe with Kisame here, and another who goes on a crazed rampage because he got a Curse Mark."

Naru thought her heart had stopped in its tracks. One person with someone behind him and bearing a Curse Mark...that could only be one person. She and Itachi both said the name at once.

"Sasuke."

"Yeah, that is right," Kisame said. "That rat really has gotten better, but I won't say he is exactly like the snake. But Zetsu is inside the current hideout as we speak, and we'll rendezvous as soon as possible. He'll finally report what your idiotic little brother has really been up to."

Not like Orochimaru after all. Building up so that he could get us for good, that's why. But you said...there's four of them. And there's also four of us.

The odds were even, but actually, there was five if you counted Zetsu, and that plant-freak wasn't even a physical combatant. But either way...

They were off in the air in no time. But she had to know - "Who were the Leaf-nin you speak off?" Naru asked, pushing her hair behind her back as it got over her face.

Kisame answered. "Danzo sent out one Genin and perhaps three Jounin who came across us when we were just chilling after getting everything we needed - and it wasn't a regret of ours since they chose to just attack us and demand where YOU were. The boy really put up a fight the most and got himself...accidentally blown up when blondie here set off his bombs in the ground."

Deidara's C2 dragon she remembered, which vomited mined bombs that the enemy would never see coming...

Her heart froze as it began pumping with fear in the core. "Who was the boy?" she demanded.

"Huh, named after the village and said he was the grandson of the Third, and that you were his friend whom he ran behind, taught him everything he knew - and he showed off your great chakra ball," Deidara stated, mouth tight and without even a hint of remorse.

Oh, no...

It couldn't be real. But everything the men said, as much as she wanted to blame them, indeed happened because they never lied about anything. The Konoha ninja were three Jounin, but didn't divulge who, except the boy with the mentioned "chakra ball" that SHE taught him...it was Konohamaru.

Konohamaru Sarutobi, grandson of the Sandaime, who was like a little brother from the moment she finished at the Academy - he had been killed by Deidara's bombs, but the one who sent him out was the one to blame. Both Deidara and Kisame were just scouting and having no trouble until they were affronted, and both sides had no choice.

She should blame Deidara because he attacked her own people, except...

"I...hate him. I want to hate you for killing him," she hissed finally, but before there could be anything else, there was the sound of a bird calling, and it didn't come from either of them. It happened from the rear end, and all heads whipped around to see a giant hawk-like bird with black ink markings around its eyes...and Naru instantly activated Sage Mode to see better as well as sense the cold chakra.

She saw the rider and gasped, also recognizing the great bird as a summoning animal. She nearly leaned into Itachi just as he, too, saw who it was.

"Sasuke!"

~o~

There was still no word from the rogue Uchiha - and he spoke of the one he "contracted", but as soon as Sasuke Uchiha served his purpose, the fool would be in for a surprise trap and then face judgment. However, there was other light news.

"Lord Danzo, we had found a lock on Lady Tsunade's whereabouts, but she is no longer in the village. The trail goes cold after that towards Sunagakure, and if it's true, then Naru Uzumaki and the Akatsuki could find her."

So...one more obstacle was still alive, he mused, but that was hardly an issue. Knowing any conditions she lived under and her weakened state during her coma, Tsunade wouldn't be able to live very long. But if that Jinchuuriki and her "friends" found the woman, who knew what would happen. "Well, Torune, you and Fuu know what to do if you find them," Danzo stated before picking up the steaming cup of green tea.

~o~

Sasuke was here.

He was here, and he was pursuing them all on a summoned giant hawk. It had to be taken on lowered ground, where there was no one in the distance. Naru looked down and scanned, Sage marks around her eyes, and said there was no one down for the time being, and here they had crossed into River Country, which was where the Akatsuki hideout was.

"Down we go!" Deidara yelled as he brought them down and all hopped off, in time for the clay bird to take flight and go off like an explosion in the air, near the great bird without striking it. The hawk screeched and vanished in a puff of smoke, causing its summoner to drop many feet from the sky and onto the ground, crouched at first before standing upright and putting one hand on his hip as means of show.

"Attack again and there's going to be no more mercy - for each and every one of you," Sasuke said coldly.

"Sasuke," Naru said through her teeth. Her hand was going to the sword behind her back, ready to draw it out if here and now was perfect for her. It was the four of them against one, and those three "friends" of his weren't anywhere in perimeter.

He was just like she remembered last time: the opened white tunic to show his muscled frame - because when he would activate the Curse Mark's second level - and the purple belt tied around his waist. But because of their history, she had no reason to call him handsome even though hormonal girls would see it. She wouldn't be surprised if any female followers of his did.

He raised an eyebrow in response. "Naru," he answered. "I thought that you'd been broken out of the village by the monster who isn't my brother. Danzo wasn't lying after all."

"So, he did contract you to hunt us for him," Itachi said icily, standing beside her. "Well, I'm afraid that will have to be a disappointment for you, foolish little brother."

"You have no right telling me what I'm going to do," the younger spat, reaching for his sword behind his back, and Naru was inclined to do the same. When he noticed, his eyes widened slightly. "Where did you get that sword, Naru?" he demanded. She grinned at him.

"This, Sasuke, is something I got from a friend and learned to master with help - but what about you? Your blade is special, but this here is much more." She thought to return his words back onto him, like he did when both of them let their inner demons out at the Final Valley: he in the second stage of the Curse Mark and she Nine-Tails.

His bulging, dismayed eyes were enough to make her want to laugh, but then the venom spewed forth when those eyes narrowed. "What the hell is that?" He was super pissed that she insulted his masculinity which involved swords - and hers was small compared to that big-ass behind his back. But hers had more than that lightning channeling thing which just cut through durable objects.

"That, you little fool," Kisame said for her, "is what you're no match for. Have you a history lesson on the Kutone Blade?"

I'm really enjoying the look on his face, Kurama.

So am I. Look, he's jealous but won't let it overcome him.

"I know of the Kutone Blade," Sasuke responded, impatient that they were all still talking. "Orochimaru used to search for it, but I have no interest in it for myself. And even if I did, how could I use it when I'm not a Jinchuuriki?"

"If you're not into getting all the jutsu in the world, what the hell are you doing in his place? If I had my way, you would have been back at the village instead of being out here with Danzo's price on your head," Naru snarled back.

The Kusanagi was out in a flash, the blade shining bright in the sunlight, and at the same time the Kutone was out to match, though greatly differed in size. "I couldn't care less about what is over my head," he snapped. "And it's not like you here now is going to make me go back on my own. I agreed to that rat because of you - and you," he added, turning his attention back to Itachi who could only glare at him with disappointment and contempt.

"What reward did Danzo offer you if you succeeded?"

"None of your business, Itachi," the younger shot back. "I just want you dead."

The chakra buzzed around the steel. "How much did he tell you?" she demanded. "You'd better answer or go through me. I was looking forward to kicking your ass once and for all, and have you look up at me with the respect I deserve."

"I'm not here for a fun spar, because I have to do what was promised of me: to find where you all are, and then be rewarded with Itachi's death by my hands. And he said you were locked up for protesting the warrant, Naru. You always were reckless, and I see you haven't changed a bit."

Oh, that does it! She was ready to charge him, but Itachi's hand stopped her. "No, don't let him provoke you," he said quietly. "Sasuke, you don't suspect Danzo has plans for your capture once you've served your purpose, do you?"

Sasuke scowled coldly. "You think I would be a fool to just agree to that without suspecting? He has no idea the tricks that I have up my sleeve, and I don't exaggerate," he stated, lowering his sword and put it behind him again. Gritting her teeth, Naru did the same.

"You don't care he's using you, as always - as long as you get what you want."

He smirked at her, pleased that she knew him that well, but the bastard had no idea how much more.

"That naïve, childlike female brain of yours is finally processing the reality."

In terms of deciding on Konohamaru's death, knowing what it would do to Naru, it had been the hardest decision to do. And the fact it had been an accident doesn't excuse her obvious hatred of Deidara because of what she knows about him. There's definitely gonna be a bigger confrontation very soon, so it's far from over.

This idea to have Konohamaru die was also in a discussion with my male friend who said he personally had yet to read a story where the Third Hokage's grandson (and one of Naru's/Naruto's dearest friends) died. But not out of a sense of pleasure, I promise. Please don't flame either of us.

Wait always worth it, good ol' and nicely detailed reviews (without being BIG like essay-form) are appreciated. :D