Mystery of the Shirahime-Syo (snow goddess)

"Akemi? Where are you from?" Sakura asked curiously.

Akemi looked around nervously. She almost looked confused. "I… I don't know." She finally said.

Sakura didn't know what to make of this girl. Everything about her was so abnormal; and her chakra… 'It doesn't make sense.' Sakura thought. 'I can't sense any chakra in her at all. Is she real?' Sakura looked back at Naruto, Kakashi, and Yamato, who were still staring at her.

"Gomenasai! I shouldn't be here. I should leave." She started to run away, but someone stopped her.

"Naruto?" Sakura stared at the yellow haired ninja blocking Akemi.

"Nonsense; come with us; we will take care of you." Naruto smiled reassuringly. Akemi bowed her head.

"I cannot… It is too dangerous." Everyone looked confused. Even Kakashi and Yamato, who finally woke up.

"Is someone after you?" Naruto asked. Naruto was about to lay a hand on her shoulder, but she quickly stepped away.

"Don't touch me!" She yelled.

"We won't hurt you. I promise you that." Kakashi stated. He walked over to her. Her eyes drifted from Naruto and to Kakashi. Just as their eyes met, Kakashi stopped. There was something about her that made him paralyzed. He couldn't figure it out. He managed to move closer to her.

"I-we will protect you. No harm will come to you." Kakashi put a hand out to her. She looked at it for a moment and slowly stuck out her hand towards his. As their finger tips touched, she backed away. She couldn't touch him. She tried again, but the electric feeling that went through her body made her shiver. "Are you cold?" She nodded. She had no other way to explain this feeling.

"I will take her to the village." Sakura said. The others nodded. Sakura bent down so that Akemi could get on her back. Akemi hesitated before getting on. "It's okay. You can trust me." She smiled lightly and got on. "Hand on tight." Sakura stated as she stood up straight and vanished.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto and Yamato looked over to Kakashi who was standing still as a statue. Naruto walked over to his back side and put his hands together. "Thousand years of death!" Naruto yelled as he plunged his hands into Kakashi's be-hind. Kakashi yelled as he sprung in the air. Naruto laughed. Yamato's eyes went wide as he saw Kkakashi fly in the air. 'That is a scary jutsu, wait… That isn't even a jutsu.' Yamato shivered. "I'll see you back at the village." And he vanished.

Kakashi landed flat on his face; butt straight in the air. Kakashi's eye was twitching.

"Well that's what you get Kakashi-sensei." Kakashi got up and brushed himself off.

"Naruto…" Kakashi put his hand over his forehead protector, which covers his left eye, and pulled it off. He stared at Naruto and made him fall unconscious to the ground. Kakashi covered his eye back up and kneeled down next to the unconscious ninja. Kakashi sighed. 'I think I went a bit far. I don't know if I would have gotten out of that trance if he didn't do… that though.' Kakashi shivered at his thought. Kakashi picked up Naruto and put him on his back, then vanished.

They entered the village and went straight to the Hokage mansion.

"Lady Tsunade… Reporting in."

"Kakashi, what have you found." Tsunade demanded. Kakashi set Naruto down on the floor then spoke. Tsunade didn't even pay attention to Naruto.

"We followed the last rendezvous coordinates. The only thing that was there was a pool of blood. It was strange, there was nothing else that could pinpoint where, or how they disappeared. Sakura collected some of the blood and is processing it. Also…" Kakashi paused.

"Go on."

"We found this woman lurking through the woods near the scene."

Tsunade looked at him, not really getting the point of the statement.

"She is very strange. I believe you should take a look at her. I am guessing Sakura took her to the infirmary." Kakashi finished.

"Very well." Tsunade got up and walked out of the room. Kakashi sighed and looked down at Naruto.

Tsunade walked into the infirmary. She walked down the long hall and into the processing room. Sakura was looking down at a screen intently.

"Sakura!" Sakura looked up sharply.

"Uh! Tsunade-sama!" Tsunade walked over to her student and looked down.

"I see." She sighed. "Sakura, print the results out." Tsunade started to walk out of the room.

"Tsunade-sama… Are you going to see Akemi?" Sakura asked.

Tsunade nodded and kept walking. She walked down a short hall and knocked on one of the nearby doors. She walked in, not waiting for a reply. She looked over to the bed, but no one was in it. She started to question whether this was the right room or not, but Sakura came in and she knew it was.

"Here are those prints Sakura stated. Her eyes drifted down to the empty bed.

"I take it she is supposed to be here right?" Tsunade asked. Sakura's mouth was wide open. "I see."

Next Time!

Where did she go? Did she leave the village, or is she planning something?

Find out next time! The Count Down BEGINS!