Hanabi awoke to a pain in her back and an overall stiffness. She didn't remember falling asleep but, she must have at some point. Crawling on all fours like a cat she stretched her limbs. Sleeping with her back against the wall was definitely not a good idea. Her stomach growled reminding the young Hyuga that she had not eaten since lunch yesterday. Apparently they thought better of disturbing her last night.

Catching a glimpse of herself in her mirror she froze. She still had dust from yesterday's mission on her face except where the tears had washed it away forming two grimy rivers on either side of her face. Her appearance was unsuitable for an heiress and she found that she didn't care. At the same time though she had no interest in being reprimanded by her father so she headed across the hall to the bathroom.

After washing her face she noticed that her eyes were bloodshot. Hanabi knelt and rested her head against the porcelain, as if she needed a reminder of last night. Still there was a part of her mind that always compared her action to Hinata's. As much she missed her sister she wanted no comparisons between them and she definitely had been acting like her. Her eyes proved it.

She couldn't let anyone see her like this. That at least would be simple enough. Sneaking through the house she relied on the Byakugan to avoid anyone. She left a note in the right spot that simply said early-morning mission. It wasn't that uncommon for one of her parents or herself to miss breakfast on those grounds. Although, it was uncommon for her not to mention it to anyone the night before but, hopefully they could chalk that up to her temper tantrum. Leaving the mansion without incident she almost made it to the gate before she was caught.

"You're up early," the unmistakable voice of Neji called to her.

Why didn't she keep her Byakugan active until she was out of the compound? She berated herself. "Early mission," she answered.

"Really," she heard him approach from behind, his sandals making little sound on the smooth stone. "It looks like you slept in those clothes."

"Late mission," she mentally kicked herself as she said those words. She was still a genin. There was no way she would receive missions back to back.

"Are you all right?" He cut directly to the point.

"Yes, of course." As much as she wanted to she couldn't get upset over someone inquiring about her health.

He started to step around her and she turned her head keeping her eyes averted. "Hanabi, I know what it's like to feel trapped. If you want to talk to somebody I am here."

For a moment she almost bought it. She wanted somebody, anyone to talk to that was not her parents but, it seemed too perfect. Her father had gone as far as to manipulate her team to suit his purposes. Neji frequently trained with him it was easy to form a connection. Not to mention that he was a branch member.

Hanabi spun hitting right under her cousins sternum. It was not a Juken move and maybe that was why it connected or maybe he just didn't try. Either way he was stunned and she was running. Later she would realize she might've been a tad paranoid but at that moment it felt right.

Running from a Byakugan user with Neji rumored range was a purely symbolic gesture but, he seemed to get the hint. Eventually she had to stop running not so much because she was tired but simply she had no place to go. Konoha was still not well known to her and she was in the shopping district an area she had rarely ventured. Most of the shops were still closed but, a few were open and a tea shop caught her eye.

A moment later she had a cup of tea and was sitting on an outdoor bench. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was until she had downed half the cup before becoming lost in her thoughts. It wasn't that she couldn't see her father's point of view. The clan had already lost one heir so it made sense that he would want to be cautious with her. It was a sound logical move but she couldn't help but feel betrayed.

Self-pity was not an emotion she ordinarily would indulge in but, there was a time for everything. The world slowly came to life around her and she took no notice of it. Even when she felt somebody sit next to her she just stared into her cup.

"Your tea is cold."

Her head snapped around at the slightly effeminate voice. Ranmaru sat an arm's length away from her. "What are you doing here?"

"I was going for my morning walk and I saw you here so I decided to stop and talk."

"Morning walk?" That sounded like something her grandfather would do.

He tilted his head smiling picking up on her tone but not the meaning. "Yeah walking is still," he trailed off and thought for a minute, "novel."

As odd as Hanabi thought that comment was she ignored it. "What do you want?"

He shrugged nonchalantly, "Nothing really. You just look like you needed somebody to talk to."

She eyed the boy suspiciously. Her father had asked her only a few days ago to befriend this boy and find out about his eyes. Now he was talking to her which struck her as suspicious. It would be best to retreat. "I don't need to talk to anyone."

"Nobody likes being alone and you don't talk to anyone."

Ranmaru's words struck a nerve and she snapped at him, "What do you know about being alone."

"Quite a lot," His smile was disarming. "Until a few years ago I never left my hut."

Hanabi had been about to storm off but, his words and demeanor caused her to sit back down. "What do you mean?"

"What I said," his answered was less then illuminating. He brushed his lavender bangs out of his eyes. "So, why are you upset?

She was wary of this odd boy but, at the same time he seemed safe. He was no relation to her so anything she said probably wouldn't be reported back to her father and right now that was a big plus. "I don't have any friends."

Ranmaru nodded sagely as if the simple sentence had a deep and profound meaning to it. "That's rough." He started to play with his hair as if he was thinking. "My friends and I are getting together tomorrow why don't you meet them?''

That caused her to laugh bitterly. "I know your friends they don't like me."

To her surprise he smiled, "Hoshiko probably doesn't like you. She really wanted to be the rookie of the year. Konohamaru didn't like that you spoiled one of his pranks and everyone else is just following his lead."

"So, why would that be different now?" She didn't remember the prank thing but at least she finally had a reason for Hoshiko's hostility toward her even though it seemed a little petty.

"He probably doesn't think about it anymore. Besides he would like somebody new to tell his latest battle story too. I'll say that's why you want to meet them."

Hanabi was tempted and really the worst thing that could happen was it would blow up in her face. That had already kind of happened with her team. She supposed it was worth a shot but, "Is this a trick?"

"No," he stood to leave. "We're going to meet at Reiko's which is actually over there." He pointed down the street, "I hope to see you then."

The Hyuga heiress watched Ranmaru disappear into the crowd. The timing of this whole thing was suspicious but at the same time it was an opportunity. Beside, her father had asked her to try to gain information on that boy. Even if she was upset with him right now duty to her clan was too deeply ingrained in her to simply abandon it. However, there was a part of her that was excited about the opportunity. If only she didn't think there was something more to it.

"Can you hurry up Shikamaru," Sakura said leaning against the wall in an attempt to conceal her partner's work. Technically they were following orders but, breaking and entering was unnerving.

"I haven't picked a lock since the Academy. It's not exactly a skill that comes back to you easily," Shikamaru answered a second before the bolt clicked. "Come on," he slipped into the apartment.

Following him into the apartment Sakura took in the room. This would be the second place the two of them had checked. Tsunade had given them a partial list of the casualties and told them to search their residences for any proof that they might be hidden Root members. Unfortunately, she hadn't given them any more details. Sakura doubted Root members would leave written orders around especially when they had to do with the theft of documents but, if they could find evidence that somebody has the necessary skills that would be good enough.

Everyone on their list lived alone so she had been expecting to see something like Naruto's or Ranmaru's apartment but, this place was bigger. It had to be twice the size of either of theirs. Impeccably neat its walls were lined with paintings that made it seem more like an art gallery than a home.

Shikamaru walked to the center of the studio apartment and formed a hand seal. A dark shadow started to pool at his feet like a puddle. Slowly it grew larger slipping into every nook and cranny of the floor.

Sakura would be more interested if he hadn't already explained it to her earlier. It was a modification on his family jutsu that his father and he had worked on. It was used to find hidden compartments in the floors, walls and ceiling. Effective but not perfect. If the object they were looking for was in the open or hidden in something that had a natural opening such as a pillow it was no use.

She started her own search. Checking the paintings to see if any of them had been moved recently she notice they didn't have any names which seemed odd. The couch was next but the cushions were just cushions. Checking each of the individual books on the bookshelf she again came up with nothing. That only left the desk.

Shikamaru's shadow now covered most of the floor and was starting to creep up the walls. Crossing over it she shivered even though she knew it was harmless. Taking a seat behind the desk she checked the drawers for triggers. Finding nothing she started to go through them. Pens, paper and a picture book was all she found. The last drawer finally had something interesting.

There were two scrolls. Unrolling the first one she started to read. It was old but, it told how to do a complex jutsu call Choujuu Giga. She thought the theory was interesting and complicated combining several simple things into one. It was the second scroll that really interested her though. The second scroll was newer and was apparently still being written as it cut off abruptly almost in midsentence. It too talked about the Choujuu Giga but, concentrated on how to use it for recon.

Looking up from her scroll a smile danced across her lips. Shikamaru had covered the floor and walls along with most of the ceiling and she waited for the inky shadows to complete the in globing of the room. "Anything," she asked surrounded in darkness. He shook his head in the negative and she held up the scroll. "I think this is our guy. He could bring drawings to life."

After he took a look at the scroll himself he was inclined to agree but, insisted they finish searching the rest of the places. That wasn't what she was hoping for but that was the problem of being outranked. You didn't have much choice in the matter.

Kakashi past through the southern gates just before they were to be closed for the day. As his name was registered a a frog about the size of Pakkun hopped in front of him. It was only mildly surprising to him when the frog directed him to the nearest hot springs. Intrigued he did as he was asked. Assuming he wasn't supposed to go into the building he walked along the bamboo fence until he found an old man peeking through a hole.

"You know that's going to get you killed one of these days."

Jiraiya looked up at him a hurt look across his face, "As if they could. Besides how could I write my next novel without doing any research?"

Kakashi's single eye curved upwards in a smile, "Well that's certainly a noble goal but, would you mind." He tilted his head to the side.

"Yeah," standing Jiraiya rubbed the back of his neck as they walked over to the railing. There was a small stream and for a moment they only heard the sound of the gurgling water beneath them. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to make it," Jiraiya spoke leaning against the railing.

"I was at the tip of the tea country," Kakashi answered.

"Any luck finding the old bastard?"

The jonin sighed, "No, he left a dozen false trails."

"That's a pain but, you're new mission will be a lot easier. You know were attacking Sound?" He asked.

"Yes but, since the entire team wasn't recalled I'm assuming I'm not going," Kakashi answered.

"Tsunade believes that Danzou is going to make his move while most of Konoha's force is away. If she is assassinated she wants you to take out the entire Advisory Council and Danzou if he pops his head back in the village." Taking a paper from his pocket the Sannin handed it over to the younger man. "There is the order in writing."

He only glanced at it before putting it in his own pocket. "If the Hokage is dead and the Advisory Council is in need of new members how is a successor chosen?" Kakashi did not want to see Danzou in charge of the village but, being leaderless could almost be as bad in the short run.

"Normally, it would fall to her appointed successor but, since she hasn't appointed one and the council would no longer be a factor it would fall to a jonin assembly. None of his members have anywhere near the necessary support to win that way," Jiraiya answered.

The younger pervert nodded satisfied. A comfortable silence descended upon the two until he broke it. "I haven't had a chance to ask you yet but how did Naruto's training trip go?"

Jiraiya shrugged in an overly casual manner. "We could've accomplished more but, things kept popping up. If I had had another six months well, no reason to dwell on it now. Maybe we can continue when this mess is done."

Kakashi had mixed emotions about that announcement. He would acknowledge that Jiraiya could teach Naruto things he could not but, he felt an obligation to the boy that went beyond the student teacher bond. With effort he managed to suppress those thoughts for now.

"There was an incident with Kyuubi while you were gone."

"What!" The jonin's head snapped around.

The older man nodded. "It seems Naruto is trying to teach the rasengan to that friend of his. At the same time he tried to do that leaf training by creating several clones. Kyuubi was able to take control of one. No one was hurt but the timing is worrying."

"What do you mean?"

"The Kyuubi clone tried to attack the kid which seems a strange thing for it to do. It may have just been chance but, nobody really knows how smart the fur ball is. That friend of his is important to him. If Naruto was responsible for his death he would probably lose more control and when that happens, his tenant can come out and play," Jiraiya finished.

They were both transported back into different times. One remembering the first and only time he saw a real demon. The other remembered another blonde that he had failed.

"Well," the older man pushed away from the railing. "I have to go do a favor for an old teammate and then I have to kill another but, before all that I have to tell Naruto something."

"And what is that?"

Glancing over his shoulder the Sannin answered flippantly, "That kid from Kumo is still acting friendly with Naruto. I just thought Naruto might be interested in one of the hostages his friends village is using."

Kakashi didn't understand at first and then he remembered. Kumo's general policy towards Jinchuriki was to either recruit them or kill them. There had been a rumor in the last year or so that they had managed to recruit the eight tails host but it had yet to be confirmed. Although, he could never picture Naruto defecting they would certainly try and convince him.

Kisame was well aware that his partner was crazy. It really wasn't that uncommon among Akatsuki members and since Itachi was a quiet crazy it didn't really bother him. When he had first met the boy and that's what he had been he was sane but, something had happened in the first two months. Apparently not everybody could massacre their family and walk away with a clear conscience no matter what circumstances.

He had seen it before and considering the hidden village he had originally came from it was almost normal to him. Now if he had Hidan as a partner well he would definitely have to decapitate him and leave his head at the bottom of a lake. The fish could nibble on him for eternity.

Hearing his partner's approach he turned to face him and ask, "Why does Konoha look like a freshly kicked over anthill?"

Itachi came to stand next to him on a hill that overlooked Konoha. "They're attacking Sound."

The taller of the two considered that for a moment. "Do you think we should report this? Orochimaru used to be one of us."

"If Pain doesn't already know, then there's no point in telling him. There isn't any time to do anything about it," the self-made orphan answered without taking his eyes from the village.

Kisame smiled revealing his serrated teeth and added, "Well, this will make your little mission easier." His comment received no rise out of the younger man and after a moment he continued. "If the container for the nine tails is heading out we might be able to grab him on the way back."

"Fine, but first I have to clean house."

Authors note: I'm finally back to this story after finishing Assassins in the Snow.