The next few days went by slowly and uneventfully. Lady Tsunade had kept Asuka on the sidelines to make sure she was fully recovered before sending her out on another mission. Asuka used the time to ease back into training with Neji's help. Neji had agreed to help her with her taijutsu and Asuka could tell she was already improving.

Neji and Asuka had just finished their training for the day when Kakashi showed up.

"Hey Kakashi Sensei what's up?" Asuka asked.

"I have some news." Kakashi said simply.

Asuka could tell, even though Kakashi was trying to remain neutral, this was not good news he was bringing.

"What's happened?" Neji asked.

I guess he picked up on it too.

"Asuma Sarutobi, has been killed in action."

Asuka's heart sank. I didn't know him really but I heard lots about him. I hope Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji are doing ok.

"I see." Neji said simply.

"Is there anything you need Kakashi Sensei? I know he was a friend of yours." Asuka asked.

"I'll be fine. The funeral is tomorrow at 3pm."

"We'll be there." Neji said.

"Thanks, I have a few more people to tell so I'll see you guys tomorrow." Kakashi walked away.

"I'm going to check and see how Ino is doing. Even though Shikamaru and Choji know what she's feeling, girls deal with grief a little differently." Asuka said.

"That's probably a good idea. I'll stop in and offer my condolences to Shikamaru and Choji."

"Okay then I'll see you later."

Asuka and Neji gave each other a quick kiss goodbye and then Asuka headed to Ino's house.

When Asuka knocked on the door it was Ino's mom who answered.

"Hi Mrs. Yamanaka, I heard about what happened and I wanted to see how Ino was. May I come in?"

"Of coarse," she said solemnly, "Ino is just in her room."

"Thanks."

Asuka climbed the stairs and followed the sound of sobs to Ino's room. Asuka tapped on the door and opened it gently.

"Asuka, what are you doing here?" Ino asked wiping her tears away.

"Your mom let me in. Kakashi Sensei just told me about what happened. You don't need to put on a brave face for me." Asuka said as she sat down and handed Ino a tissue box.

"Have you ever lost anyone close to you?" Ino asked.

"Yes... and it was the hardest thing I've ever gone through."

"Was it your sensei?"

"Yeah, my mom was my sensei. She taught me everything I know for the most part."

"How long ago was that?"

Ino was starting to relax and calm down. She's probably realizing that I truly understand how she feels.

"That was five years ago. I've had some time to recover."

"Does the pain ever fade?" Ino asked starting to cry again.

"It does for the most part but you will always miss them. My mom knew her work was dangerous so she always told me that if anything happened to her that she would still be alive in my heart."

Ino burst into full on crying again and Asuka hugged her. She let Ino cry it out and waited till she settled down again. Asuka saw an empty cup on Ino's bed side table.

"When was the last time you had anything to drink?" Asuka asked.

"Umm... last night I think."

Asuka weaved some hand signs and filled the cup with ice cold water. "There drink up."

Ino practically breathed it in.

"Feel better?"

"I still feel numb."

"I meant as far as thirst goes." Asuka clarified.

"Yeah that feels better but that's about it."

The two girls just sat together in silence. Asuka hugged Ino when she needed it and stayed until it was time for Ino to eat dinner with her family.

"Ino! Time for dinner!" her mother called.

"I guess that's my cue to go get some food myself. Will you be alright?" Asuka asked.

"I think so," Ino said.

The two of them walked downstairs together.

"Thanks for coming by Asuka." Ino said.

"You're welcome, I'm there for you if you need anything."

"Won't you stay for dinner?" Ino's mom offered.

"Thank you for the offer but I think I'm going to head home. Besides I wouldn't want to impose."

"It wouldn't be an imposition. I always end up making too much. It's the result of having Choji over on occasion I guess." Ino's mom explained.

"Please Asuka," Ino pleaded.

"Alright, since you insist."

Everyone sat down at the table, gave thanks for the food and started to eat. Asuka decided it was best to let them control the conversation since she knew the last thing Ino would want to talk about at dinner was Asuma Sensei.

Most of the meal was eaten in silence with occasional small talk here and there. Once everyone had finished eating Asuka thanked them for their hospitality and went home.

The next day Asuka felt gloomy. The last time she had been to a funeral was her mother's. Asuka had just finished getting ready when there was a knock at the door.

Asuka opened the door to see Ino.

"Would you mind walking with me?" Ino asked.

"Of coarse I'll walk with you. Anything I can do."

Most of the walk was done in silence.

"Your parents aren't walking with you?" Asuka asked.

"They just wanted to give me some space, but I wanted to walk with you, since Shikamaru had already left his place and I'm sure Choji is already there."

Sure enough Ino was right, except that Shikamaru hadn't shown up. The service went through as expected. Asuka stood behind Ino. Once the service was over Asuka headed home and made herself some tea. Mom do you know how much I miss you? Asuka reminisced as she drank her tea. Part of me wants Dad to be alive then I have the chance to bond with him.

Asuka went to bed that night with thoughts of her father and what he might be like.

Two days later Asuka got called into the Hokage's office along with Hinata and Kiba. Asuka couldn't tell why but she could tell that Lady Tsunade was upset about something.

"A wealthy man named Makoto has asked for our help in sniffing out a mole in his organization. If we are successful in helping him then he will offer any support we may need in the future." Tsunade explained.

"Pardon me Lady Hokage but did you say Makoto?" Asuka asked.

"Yes I did. It's because of your connection with the man that I am making you the squad leader on this one."

Asuka tried to stay professional.

"Aside from great wealth, I know nothing of the man, is there anything you can tell me about him?" Tsunade asked.

"He respects his deals. When my mother died completing her mission for him he came by to tell me about my mother and handed me her pay."

"I see. I know this will be a difficult mission for you Asuka but I am sure you are up to the task."

"If I may ask, what is the rank of the mission?" Asuka asked.

"This is an A-rank mission. Are there any other questions?"

Everyone remained quiet.

"Alright then, here are your assignment details." Tsunade said handing Asuka a scroll. "You are to head out right away. You're dismissed."

Asuka, Kiba and Hinata quickly left, gathered what they needed and met at the main gate.

"Before we go I want to let you guys know that this could turn into an S-rank mission, especially if the man who killed my mother is behind this. If it is the same guy then we need to be on our toes because he is very skilled in taijutsu."

"Lady Tsunade definitely made the right choice making you our leader then." Kiba said.

"I'm not so sure about that." Asuka said, "I'm emotionally involved."

"I'm sure Lady Tsunade wouldn't have made you leader if she thought you weren't up to the task." Hinata encouraged.

"Thanks Hinata. Now then, lets get going." Asuka said.

And they all headed off.

Asuka was quiet for most of the trip as she thought about how she was going to try to keep her head if she came face to face with her mother's killer.

"Are you doing alright Asuka?" Hinata asked.

"I'm fine for now, I just have to make sure I keep my head and think strategically."

"Well we're here for you no matter what." Kiba reassured.

Finally, after about a full day's travel, they stood at the steps of the office of Mr. Makoto.

Asuka took a deep breath and boldly stepped forward.

The office looked as you would expect from someone who had a successful business. The group stopped at the secretary and told her who they were. She in turn lead them to Mr. Makoto's office.

Everyone bow respectfully and then knelt in front of Mr. Makoto.

"Hello Mr. Makoto, I am Asuka and this is Hinata and Kiba. We are the shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Leaves that you requested." Asuka introduced.

"Asuka hmm?"

"Yes sir."

"It's nice to see you after so long. You look just like your mother." Mr. Makoto complimented.

"Thank you sir."

"I wish it was under better circumstances that we were meeting. You see, Takashi, the man that killed your mother, escaped and disappeared. He has only now resurfaced. We aren't sure how he managed it but he seems to have changed his face but we have no idea what his new face looks like."

"So if you have no idea what the guy looks like how can you know that it's him?" Kiba asked.

"I have my sources."

I guess that's a typical answer from someone like him who has a lot to protect.

"What do you want us to do once we find him?" Asuka asked.

"Simple... I want you to kill him."

"Do you have something that used to belong to him? Kiba and Akamaru can track his scent." Asuka asked.

"Before all of that I made arrangements for your sleeping quarters, please get a full night's rest before you look for this man. You will need it."

"Thank you Mr. Makoto."

Just then the secretary appeared and lead them to their room. There was a single bed for each of them.

"Hinata can use your byakugan to check and make sure the beds or the room hasn't been tampered with?" Asuka asked.

"Of coarse. Byakugan!"

"I thought you said we could trust this guy." Kiba interjected.

"I trust Mr. Makoto enough but since we are dealing with someone who has good knowledge of the company and how it runs, I want to make sure that he didn't sneak in here after everything was done and set a trap for us."

"I don't see any tampering with the room and the room itself look pretty secure." Hinata said finishing her scan.

"Alright then let's get a good night's sleep we need to be ready for anything." Asuka ordered.

Everyone climbed into bed. Asuka slept surprisingly well that night.

The next day the team arrived bright and early at Mr. Makoto's office.

"Good morning. I did what you asked and found a piece of fabric that was torn from his shirt when he escaped. I'm not sure how good the scent will be." Mr. Makoto said holding up a red piece of cloth.

"That should be plenty, right Akamaru?" Kiba said.

Akamaru barked his response.

The two of them sniffed the cloth.

"Alright we got the scent so now all we have to do is find the dirt bag it belongs to."

"Okay then, Kiba you track him with your nose. Hinata use your byakugan to try and see if you can pick up anything strange about the chakra among the staff."

"Right." they responded in unison.

Kiba and Akamaru went off in one direction and Hinata and Asuka went together in another direction.

"See anything yet?" Asuka asked after they had been walking around for about fifteen minutes.

"Not yet."

"How about Kiba? How's he doing?"

"He's talking with someone right now but I can't get a clear read on who they are."

That didn't sit well with Asuka.

"Lets meet up with him, I don't want him and Akamaru to be by themselves if they are talking to the real guy."

"Right."

The two quickly headed over to Kiba and met up with him just after the person had closed the door.

"You get a lead?" Asuka asked.

"Yeah that guy I just talked to smelled just like the cloth."

"It was good that you didn't attack we need to get some more information on him first. Let's head back to Mr. Makoto and see what he has on the guy." Asuka said.

Once they were back at Mr. Makoto's office Kiba described the guy he had spoken with. Mr. Makoto grabbed a photo off of his desk and showed it to Kiba.

"That's the guy alright. The scent you gave us was all over that guy."

Mr. Makoto nearly fell over.

"What is it Mr. Makoto?" Asuka asked.

"The man you say is the impostor is my son. But I don't see how."

"At any time between Takashi's escape and now did your son ever go missing? Even if it was for just a brief amount of time."

Asuka watched as Mr. Makoto's mind work.

"There was a time last year when I had to cut back hours because he wasn't pulling his weight. We had a big fight and he didn't return till the next day."

"Had he changed personally at all?" Asuka asked.

"He did start working harder but I thought that was because he finally realized I was right."

"What are you thinking Asuka?" Hinata asked.

"I'm thinking this sounds like something Orochimaru does."

"Hey you're right!" Kiba agreed.

"If Takashi somehow came into the knowledge that Orochimaru has then..."

"What? What would have happened to my son?"

"Takashi would have transferred himself into your son's body. If that's the case then your son will be dead." Asuka said plainly.

"Couldn't it have been a simple transformation jutsu?" Mr. Makoto asked.

"If that's all it was then Hinata would have been able to see it with her eyes."

"It's true, a simple transformation jutsu is easy to detect." Hinata confirmed.

Mr. Makoto slumped down behind his desk and put his face in his hands.

After a few moments of silence Asuka spoke again.

"How did you want us to proceed Mr. Makoto?"

"I want you to kill the bastard."

"All right then, Mr. Makoto I'm going to need you to call Takashi and set up a meeting. Kiba since you saw the man I want you to transform into Mr. Makoto's son. If Takashi did kill Mr. Makoto's son then we will be able to tell based on his reaction."

"Wont that raise his suspicions?" Mr. Makoto asked.

"Yes but I have discovered that the best way to get the answer you want is by watching reactions. Even if it's just for a split second I'll be able to tell you if your son is dead or alive."

"Alright then I'll ask my 'son' to meet me for lunch."