( look! The title sounds like an episode!)

Chapter 13

Homecoming:A Dangerous New Mission

"Hokage-sama! Hokage-sama!" Hyuuga Hanabi, now an ANBU member, was running down the corridor towards Naruto's office. "Hokage-sama! It's Hana!"

Sakura was walking down the streets of Otohagakure with a bag of groceries, headed towards her apartment..

"Sakura chan! You're wanted in Konoha immediatly!" Kara ran towards her. "I'm to come with you. Evidently, something important's come up and they need we have to fetch Haru too."

"Let's go." Sakura dropped the groceries in the street, and jumped through her window, grabbed Aoi and all of her gear she could find in two minutes, then ran out (this time through the door) her head throbbing, trying to figure out what happened.

---

Haru was sleeping, snoring rather loudly, modo on the floor wrapped up in a blanket.

"Haru! Get up! We need to go!" Sakura burst through the door, causing Haru to wake up with a start.

"Dam- DAMMIT SAKURA ! IT'S 3:00 IN THE MORNING! WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBL- MODO, GET THE FUCKING HELL OFF MY HEAD!" during Haru's fit of rge, the squirrel had woken up and scrambled up onto her head, yanking at her hair.

"Get ready Haru. Hokage needs us." Sakura walked out, leaving Haru to yell at her squirrel in privacy.

Back in Konoha…

"Are they back yet? It's been three days, what could be taking them-" naruto's comaplaint was cut off by Haru, Sakura, and Kara barging throught the door.

"We're here." The shouted in unison(okay.. in semi-unison…. Okay, not in unison, and Sakura.. not at all).

"What the helltook you so long? Hyuuga, Uchiha, uh… Guest.. Your Mission is to-"

"Wait up, old man. You called me here, you might as well be polite enough to wait until everyone is in the room." Neko was sitting on the windowsill, her gourd strapped to her back, fan in hand, looking tired, and rather annoyed.

"Well, on with the mission. First… Haru, it's Hana."

'What?"

"Well, Last week was her first mission, D-level,….

FLASHBACK

"And.. team 9's first mission will be … picking herbs for my wife." Naruto announced to the three genin in front of him.

"What-u mph!!!" Daran ahd tried to complain, only to be cut off by Hana, who was pressing a hand over his mouth. An hour later, they found themselves picking herbs in the sun, Daran complaining, Hana and Rei throwing things at him to get him to shut up. A cloud flew in front of the sun, and a low fog sluggishliy began to cover the ground. Fog? Hana thought, and began forming the seals for the Byuakygan as fast she coulfd move her hands, furiously attempting to finish the jutsu. Suddenly, she fell silent. Hana collapsed on the ground, unconsious.

"Hey you! Drop Hana!" Daran and Rei had dropped their collection bags and ran towards the shadowy figure who had shouldered their teamate.

"Just grab them." Asecond figure darted from the fog, and scooped up the struggling genin, knocking them out.

END FLASHBACK

"Sarai is still in the hospital from shock of losing her team on their first mission."

"WHAT IT WAS HER FIRST MISSION??? CAN'T YOU EVEN KEEP TRACK OF A 12-YEAR-OLD-GIRL?!!" Haru absolutly exploded.

"Uruse, Haru, listen to what he has to say."

"Okay. Uchiha, Hyuuga, Sabaku, … Kara, Your mission is to retrive the three missing genin, and report the whereabouts of the criminals who preformed this, well… crime. You leave immediately." Naruto waved an arm, and the foursome were gonsome.

--

"Look Alive troops! Okay, Kara in front, Sakura next, then me, Neko in the rear, you kill anyone behind us, except the people we're looking for. Or cute innocent little animals. Though, if you see a squirrel, they're fair game." Haru dictated, lining the other three girls up. "Let's Ride. Ow! What was that for?"

"Idiot." Sakura and Neko said in unision, and they took off, running into the forest, none of them really had any idea where it was.

"Tsuai. Go ahead. Track the bumbling asshole who would stoop to kidnapping a child." Neko was practically snarling. Kara froze. "Haru, Byuakan, now."

"Three people next to Kara. Neko, calm down. There's a rather cat-shaped blob on two branches over. I think we found them." Haru replied, not letting her jutsu drop.

"Three miles outside of Konoha? Cutting it a little close, aren't they?" Kara exclaimed.

"Kara, Sakura, take the right, Me& Neko to the Left. Now people! We may reach them in time to still surprise them." Haru whispered.They parted, each moving slowly to their target.

"Congratulations, Sakura, Neko, Haru, Kara."

Sakura whipped her head around and stared at the white-haired bitch in front of her.

Kagami stared back at her, a smug little smile on her face.

"Haru, you get Hana, neko, you get Natsu. Or Atsui. I don't care. This bitch is mine. I MEAN IT." The other two nodded, and Kara grinned at her.

"Backup, huh?"

"Backup."

"Go Natsu." Kagami ran at her, already throwing shruiken.

"Sharingan!"
Sakura dogded, predicting were each star-shaped blade would land.

"Why thank you Sakura! This was fun, but… I'm bored, so!" Fine wires surrounded the protesting brunette, strapping her to the tree.

"BACKUP!!!!" kara leaped in front of her, poised for attack.

"Heh. Ice Coffin!" The white girl looked over at Kara. Two large walls of ice slamed together over the kunoichi.

"Haru!"

Haru ran to the defense of her friends, only to be blocked by Modo, who was trying to "protect" his "mommy".

"Modo, you idiot! GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

"If you're quite finished yelling at the squirrel, I'll take you on." Natsu landed in front of her, forming a fighting stance.

"Fine. Byuakan!" Haru's eyes tensed, watching his body move, blocking the onslaught of his attacks. She whipped out a katana, and ran at him.

--

Sakura, meanwhile, was still stuck to the tree, and NOT happy about it. She turned to Neko, who was.. growling?

Her gourd had cracked open and sand was running to the floor like rats form a half-starved snake. The pupils of her eyes dilated, completely covering the iris and whites of her eyes. A star shape formed in the center, growing larger, and at the same time, her body was changing as well. Cat ears perked up through her tangled hair, her nails first turning black, then growing sharp and elongating. Angry red stripes rose up on her skin, and a tail ripped through the back of her kimono. She turned and slashed through the bonds holding Sakura, and they both turned to face Kagami, snarling.

She merely smirked, red eyes narrowing with anticipation.

--

Haru was cut and bleeding, holding both katana now, Byuakan still in full blaze. She turned immediately, and caught Natsu on a blade.

"Did I say I love that look for you? Maybe after I kill you, I'll rip out your eyes for myself." He laughed and she kicked him in the groin, knocking him off the branch.

I guess there's no other way, Haru thought to herself,as she dropped her blades and pulled a short blue and tan fan from her pack. She formed seals rapidly, holding the fan in her free hand, eyes still focused for Natsu's next attack. Sure enough, he came hurtling towards her, flinging shruiken. Ziing. A shruiken cut through her headband, setting her off balance as it clattered to the ground. Gathering her thoughts, she glsred at him.

"Prevailing Winds!" solid bolts of chakra slammed into Natsu's body, sending him sailing backwards against a tree. He tried to stand up, only to fall over again.

" It's useless to even try. My chakra has severed your flows completely. Plus, if you move, you'll just encourage the internal bleeding caused by those ruptured organs. You'll be dead in a matter of hours." Haru walked away, ignoring the screams of the man behind her.

Next chap: The Conclusion : Loose Ends