After swiftly taking his leave of the scene on the battlements, it took Shinri a matter of minutes to get back into the Forest of Death. He flew through he city on light toes, and before he knew it was back at the training ground. It was no matter for him to slip past the jonin guards that were stationed at the forest's perimeter, no matter at all. Shinri ducked swiftly into the hole in the fence he had noticed even before the exam had begun, and he was in. it was as simple as that

No one had seen him either leaving, or coming back because he had not wanted to be seen. The truth was as plain as that. Shinri dusted off his hands once he got totally back inside, and he was in no way surprised to find Makuro standing there when he turned around.

"Welcome back." Kuro said with no question in his voice. He took two steps towards his friend, into a pool of sunlight. It was shafting in through the trees at a considerably different angle than it had when the day first started. Both boys crained their heads back, and took note of this. It was getting later. The night of the first day was fast approaching. They should be thinking about making camp.

"We have to finish this now!" Shinri said abruptly in way of greeting, pushing past his fellow cell member, and without preamble jumped for the lowest bough of the nearest tree. Makuro followed him step for step, jump for jump, without any comment. Soon the two cell members were up and running in the trees like they had the first part of the day.

"Any chance you're going to tell me why?" Makuro asked curiously as the pair of them flashed through the trees. They headed towards the tower in the center of the arena without a spoken word of agreement. Kuro was reading uncharacteristic waves of urgency and alarm from the snake ninja alongside of him, and was acting accordingly. Whatever Shinri had to say at this point was worth listening too.

At last, after what may have been a half an hour, Shinri felt that he could speak safely about what he had seen. He told Makuro everything, without reserve. This was the time for trust among his cell members.

"Itachi Uchiha, eh?" Makuro said quietly. He had heard all about the Uchiha, of course. The name was mud in Yorugakure obviously because of what they had done in the village. There was no masking it, however. They were certainly the most dangerous ninja clan to ever strap on a headband or pick up a kunai, and Itachi was probably the most accomplished of them all.

This Kisame ninja.. Makuro didn't know much about him, except that he was originally from Kirigakure. Interesting. Maybe he knew Yoake, then. That would also complicate things. There were too many loose ends in this plan, which was why Kuro had disagreed with it so vehemently in the beginning. There were altogether too many variables depending on the free will of too many dangerous players for Kuro's liking.

Makuro didn't know much about the Akatsuki, except that they were a notorious group of rogue ninja villains. They seemed like the wrong bunch of guys to mess with, which was for sure. So they were in on this thing too, then? Wonderful. Maybe they could all have a tea party later. Wouldn't that be lovely?

Makuro scoweled.

"I went into the tent before I came back into the arena," Shinri was saying. He pulled a Heaven scroll from his pocket, "And stole this. We don't have time to steal one from anyone else in a fight, and if they count them up and find something wrong, then I'm sure Yoake will pull some strings."

It was unlike Shinri to overlook a detail like this, Makuro noted. The snake ninja continued.

"We need to get to the tower as soon as possible before something else drops in on us. Itachi already found Satora."

Makuro came to a screeching halt.

Shinri actually kept going for a few seconds before he realized that he had left his cell member far behind in the trees. He doubled back quickly.

"What? Come on! We have to find Sato, and get to the tower!"

"This way!" Makuro snapped, and he was suddenly off. It took all of Shinri's speed and skill to keep up with the boy this time. Something was driving Kuro, something powerful.

"What did you sense, Kuro?" Shinri panted. He barely had enough breath to spare at the frantic pace he was leaping at. This was the first time in memory that he had addressed his stoic team member by any name other than, 'Linen-head', 'Seiroyuki' or any other such name. It was also the first time in memory that he was having trouble keeping up with someone. That was two for the books.

Makuro stopped dead again, but this time Shinri was ready for it. The pair of them stood motionless in the fading light.

Shinri was breathing hard. After a few minutes he managed to compose himself.

"Where is she?"

"Can't you feel it?" Makuro whispered?
Shinri quelled a shaft of annoyance that stabbed at his mind. They didn't have time for this! The tower was the only place they could be safe in this forest, with Rogue-ninja and missing-nin like Kisame. Itachi, and Orochimaru around.

All the same Shinri pointed his nose in the air and took a deep breath. The smell of chakra was in the air, almost like a residue. Something big had gone down here.

"Where is she?" Shinri repeated once more, his patience wearing thin.

Makuro must have felt that, because he pointed at a place to their lower left.

Satora was sitting the wide bough of an oak limb. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, and she had wrapped her arms around them rather protectively. It didn't take a genius to see that something crushing had happened to the girl.

Makuro was the first to jump down. Actually, he more lowered himself on his linens slowly as not to surprise the girl. Sato raised her head off her elbows and stared at her friend. Kuro was a little shocked to see that she had been crying.

"Kuro, is it really you?" Sato asked in a small voice. Kuro had never seen her like this before, ever. Even in their childhood. What had reduced his strong friend to this pool of tears?

One man. Itachi. Kuro looked back up at Shinri. He had not moved from his perch, but seemed eager to get a move on.

"Who was it?" Makuro asked rather vaguely, squatting down to her level. His gaze was next drawn to her curse scars. They were throbbing green. It was a more brilliant and vibrant shade than he had ever seen emanate from her. Carefully, almost daringly, he took her by the arm, and pulled her to her feet, "Sato, we have to get going. The only place for us is the tower."

"We have three more days." Sato said rather distantly.

"Change of plans." Shinri was among them. He had dared to come down, and looked impatient, "The game's afoot, and it looks like the player line-up has changed."

"But Yoake said—"

"Forget what Yoake said!" Shinri snapped impatiently, sounding more like himself. Real and true agitation was radiating from his eyes, "She doesn't know what's happened. Sato, you saw him, you probably just fought him now. You know what we're dealing with isn't what we planned. We aren't ready to take on the Akatsuki, or even Itachi! Well… You certainly aren't."

The look on Sato's face slowly went from dazed to confused, to a look of dawning understanding. Lastly, her face shifted into that familiar expression of resolve, even if it was a little soft around the edges yet.

"That's my girl!" Kuro said softly, squeezing her on the arm.

"What about the heaven scroll?" Sato gave her head a little shake as though to clear it. Kuro felt that she could stand on her own, so he released her arm.

"Got it." Shinri produced the small role from its place in his pocket, "Kuro still has his earth scroll, and we're all set. We'll have to let Yoake know why we retreated to the tower so early. Come on. if we hurry, we can make it before nightfall."

"Can you do it?" Kuro asked Sato quietly.

"Of course I can!" Sato raised her head, and tossed her hair. She had gotten her nerve back, "Alright, then. Let's get to that tower, and when we're the first team to waltz in there. every rogue ninja and missing-nin in town will know better than to mess with us!"

"Whatever blows your hair back, princess.." Shinri said shortly, "For Gosh sakes, we have to GO!"

Ten seconds later (Sato had to redo her hair) They were off.