I'm back. Hey guyz what's it been a year? Or so… U know a number is just a time or something so yea, amid a few convos with a fellow author we figured we would help each other to finish our stories. So to keep up my end I will finish this story and then finish my avatar the last airbender one so, here we go, expect a chapter every other week and if not u may PM me until I post it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Naruto: But if you did?

Me: If I did u and Sakura wouldn't take so long just to get together. Trust me.

Naruto: I think I prefer your version! Dattebayo!

Sakura: Of course you would! I see nothing wrong with the slow-

Naruto (grumble): spanning over 4 years

Sakura: Natural progression-

Naruto (grumble): Where I constantly tried to impress you-

Sakura: Of a teenaged girl's feelings

Naruto (grumble): And ended up with a rival in the Uchiha of all clans

Sakura: Hey are you even listening!?

Naruto: Huh!? Of COURSE Sakura-chan! He-he

Sakura: Right.

Me: I don't own Naruto ok good. I do own Suonyo and Senji and their awesomeness!

~Previously on 'The Lost Clan'~

"Please, Naruto. You- you can't really think…that I"

"This is do or die time."

"felt like my skin was being seared and this evil aura appeared out of nowhere."

"You can't tell-tell my sister. Don't let her know how ill- ill i- I am …"

~At the gates of Konohagakure no Sato~

It was almost seven in the evening and so far no unusual characters or anything weird for that matter had transpired within the gates of the leaf village. This meant that it was a good day for Gekko Hayate and Shiranui Genma. Surrounded by the picturesque beauty of the villgae's lush forestry it would be hard for anyone to stay alert for too long which explained why Hayate was taking a nap at that moment…

That is until a sound of a thousand stampeding elephants reached their ears followed by a dust cloud that threatened to rival Suna's infamous sand storms. By the time the dust had settled there was nothing in sight. As quickly as it had come it had left. The only thing on the two disoriented guard's minds was

…'well…that was random.'

They both exchanged a knowing glance recognizing the chakra signatures of some of the members of the rookie nine and with that both proceeded to dooze off, none realizing that three chakra signatures in particular were growing fainter by the second.

"Okay everyone!"Yelled Ino, "Shikamaru you're with me! We need Tsunade-sama stat!"

"Right." Both of them veered slightly to the left towards the Hokage Tower

"The rest of you take those three to the hospital. "

Three rounds of "Hai!" were heard before they all took off in a renewed burst of speed. They were so close. They couldn't give up now.

~Flashback~

~Suonyo's POV~

'We had just saddled up and began our trek back to the village, in the back of my head I could tell something wasn't right with the way the dog breath guy and the medic kept eyeing me before we left. Also the fact that I haven't been able to talk to big bro for awhile kinda does have me on edge but I'll manage. I am kinda feeling a bit sluggish myself.'

The ninja troupe was travelling in a loose formation as explained earlier by Shikamaru. Shino and I would take up the rear with Shino protecting their backs , at the middle was Akamaru and Sakura, who was in charge of ensuring that Naruto and Senji didn't fall off of the ninja hound's back. Kiba was on the left of his partner, Sakura on Akamaru's right and Ino and Shikamaru would warn of any traps or attacks from the front. All of them were extremely tense with anxiety for both their teammate and their passed out captive Chan Enji.

"Are you feeling alright? I ask because, you seem to be lagging and your breaths are becoming increasingly shorter."

Shino drifted back a bit while waiting for me to catch up. I didn't realise it initially but he was right my breaths were less controlled, my body felt heavy with exhaustion despite the fact that I had awoken just an hour ago. Something was very wrong.

Shino's worried face peered at me in earnest "Sukyo are you-

" Shino i-…I don't feel so good."

They continued on unnoticed by the others.

"Should I call Sakura?"

"I- I don't think that…is- necessary."

Suddenly everything went black. I could see black dots in my vision, so cloudy…so disorienting. I'm falling, I gotta get up need to grab a hold, break the fall. - I'm too high up. But my body…feels so heavy. I'm not even using that jutsu…this is wrong.

Then a picture appeared. In my head I could see. Bug boy? Shino. Why is he falling?

My arms flailed uselessly above me. I couldn't reach him and the gap kept becoming bigger between us. No. I wanted to reach him. He could help me.

Why did he just stop on that branch? Webs? Chakra threads…like a spider web- that's- an Aburame technique. I felt a jolt in my back before I finally fainted.

~Hokage Tower~

Two figures are running like MAD MEN in their frantic search for the Lady Hokage and one of the three legendary Sannin Lady Tsunade. Rounding the last corner Ino burst through the office doors.

"Tsunade-sama!?" yelled Ino who could tell from the smell of the room that Tsunade was clearly anything but sober.

"Whaddu ya want *hic*! Can't ya-see *hic* I'm busy blondey and-and…uh who are you again?"

"Tsunade-sama it's-"

"Pineapple head! Right. Now *hic* get lost *hic*!"

"Oh great, she's drunk. Well isn't this troublesome."

Another figure boldly steps through the door to enter the Hokage's office

(Talking way 2 fast for anyone to really understand)"Shizune! Please you have to help us! Naruto's in the hospital with a concussion, we found two nin on our way here badly injured, one's poisoned the other's passed out from chakra exhaustion and we don't even know it they're really from Konoha or not and-"

"Woah there Ino! Slow down would ya. Now let's start from the beginning, shall we."

Ino took a deep breath in, exhaled and….

(Slightly slower but still talking fast) "Okay so we're on our way from the mission and we get attacked by missing ninja from the land of rain who we kill. Naruto's all like (in a mock deep voice), I'll handle them, and then gets cut with a kunai which may have had on poison and Sakura checks him and says there's no poison and Shino's on patrol and his bugs find this girl and surround her and then her brother is there to and he and Shikamaru, Kiba and akamaru bring them back to camp for interrogation and they claim to be Konoha ninja and poof poof and they say they killed an Akatsuki member and-"

Shikamaru interrupted "You know what Ino why don't we just go to the hospital now and-"

"Wait! What did you mean by fast girl and killed an Akatsuki member. I mean what were *hic* their names?" a slurred voice coming from none other than, our still drunk but slightly sobering, Tsunade.

"I think I'll answer this time Ino. They said their names were Suonyo and Senji."

Before Shikamaru could finish saying Suonyo Tsunade had darted out of her office and straight to the hospital at break neck speed. Right behind her was Shizune.

"Was it something I said?" asked Ino, staring oddly at their exit.

"How troublesome those two are turning out to be. If they're some sort of rogue ninja we're dead."

~At the Hospital~

Upon bursting through the hospital doors Sakura made her way over to the front desk situated in the centre of the room, behind which an old nurse stood monitoring the work of their newest interns.

"Akimi!" at the sound of her name the eldest nurse turned towards Sakura with a look of astonishment clear on her features

"Hai Sakura-san?"

"I need a free room for these three."

"I see. It would probably be best if we kept them together seeing as whom those two are." She replied gesturing towards the two passed out black teenagers, one on Akamaru's back and the other in Shino's arms.

"Huh? You know these two Akimi?"

"Yes. I'm afraid I'm not at privilege to tell you everything Sakura-san but we need to take them to the ANBU special quarters in the hospital." At the information Sakura raised and eyebrow but responded with a firm nod of the head

"Okay let's go guys!"

"Right!" "Bark!"

After going through some normal looking hallways in the hospital Akimi stopped in front of a wall.

Kiba's impatience was easily getting the best of him, "Uh, no offense lady but maybe you should get glasses?"

"Just shut up and watch Kiba." Sakura let out a frustrated sigh, each of them, maybe excluding Shino, is already tense enough as it is

"Just gimme a moment will you? I'm not as young as I used to be." After making the tiger hand sign Akimi placed her hand on the wall and yelled out "Release!"

The wall poofed away leaving a whole other section of the hospital.

"Okay Sakura-san." Said Akimi standing aside and gesturing them in. "Here are their usual rooms."

Two doctors immediately flickered into the middle of the room and Akimi proceeded on her way out.

"I'll get some nurses to get them in beds and contact the Hokage." Said Akimi

"Thank you Akimi. And no need to worry about Hokage-sama. Our friends already went to get them."

"Okay then Sakura-san. You know where to go to find me. Cya!"

"Bye Akimi and thanks again! Kay Shino you can put Suonyo in that bed to the left. Kiba, you and Akamaru can put Naruto by the bedside window and Senji can go in the middle."

"Hai." "Right."

The nins finally had a chance to survey the room which seemed like any ordinary room except for the fact that two seals were on the far wall, one above and below the window that lay on the middle of the wall. Another seal was atop the door and three more above each bed. The doctors moved to place Senji into the bed on the right of the room, nearest to the entrance. Shino placed Suonyo on the bed directly opposite of his on the other side of the room. Moving by the window one of the doctors got out a scroll that held a spare bed for Kiba to place Naruto on.

With that Kiba and Shino stood aside while Sakura briefed the doctors as well as she could on the other ninjas current status.

~present time~

Two figures burst through the hospital doors with two others not too far behind them.

By the time Akimi made it back to the main loby she was just in time to help Shizune prevent Lady Tsuande from strangling one of her newest interns

"Akimi!" yelled the surprised Hokage

"Tsunade-sama! Not that she might not deserve it but we are a bit short on medical staff as it is."

"Huh, well next time you might wanna hire people who are at least more aware of what's happening in the hospital!" the last part was yelled specifically at the two girls quaking in the corner

Turning to Akimi at last fully calmed and sober she asked "I suppose you dealt with the injured party?"

" I placed em' in their regular room and I didn't split them up either. Naruto, Suonyo and Senji are all in the same room."

"Thanks Akimi. For them to be in the hospital they must have had a really rough time." Said Tsunade silently contemplating

"What do you think Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked in a hushed tone.

Once the four ninja made their way to the ANBU wing of the hospital Tsuande replied,

"Well Shizune it seems that we underestimated Zetsu's power. No way Kisame was much of a fight. Right now our priority is to ensure they recover…also Shizune," stated Tsunade as she stepped closer to Shizune "I'll need you to contact them for me. They'll want to know that they've returned from their mission. Use my personal hawk if you must. Fastest one there is. If you can't reach them then contact Ibiki and Anko."

"Hai milady."

With that Shizune teleported to the Hokage's secret chambers where she kept the hokage's secret messenger hawk.

"We need you Tsubasa." Shizune said opening the cage and perching the bird on her finger. After hastily writing a message and fixing it to the bird's talon she released her outside and hurried over to the Dango shop praying that Anko would be there looking for a quick snack.

By this time Tsunade had finally entered the room holding the injured ninja.

"Tsunade-sama!" The two doctors immediately stopped their work to bow before her

"Tsunade-sama we-

"How about you two stop being baka's and get back to your treatments! I'll run my own set of diagnostic checks while you continue healing them!"

"Of course ma'am!"

Tsunade made her way to the back of the room where Sakura was healing Naruto's head wound while Kiba, Shino and Akamaru stood by the wall just by the window. By then Ino and Shikamaru rushed in as well and the door securely shut behind them.

"Sakura report."

"Hai Shishou. I believe Sukyo may have the least threatening injuries presently, just seems like a case of blood loss and severe chakra exhaustion. Naruto has suffered blunt force head trauma and, with the help of the medical instruments there seems to be a very miniscule trace of a some sort of foreign toxin, most likely introduced from a small fight we had on our way home. If I had to guess I'd say the- uh…Naruto's 'immune system' took care of the poison." Tsunade immediately understood Sakura's hesitancy towards mentioning Kyuubi around her teammates. She would have to deal with that later.

"As for Enji…I- It's doubtful that he'll survive another few days. Maybe a week at most."

At this information Tsunade and could only gape at Sakura's statement.

"I'm sorry Tsunade-sama but by the time I got to him the poison was already spread throughout his circulatory system. I- There was nothing I could do, we got here as fast as we could and even then." She trailed off at the end of her assessment.

Tsunade looked towards the young ninja who had awoken since they had arrived at the hospital and could only nod at her grimly.

"Tsu-Tsunade-sama. I-."

Tsunade quickly made her way to his side as the other doctor finished his diagnostic and began making a list for a potential antidote knowing the Hokage would never give up on the ninja that was before them.

"Ssshh, Senji. Take it easy alright. Ibiki's on his way. He can go into your mind and give me the mission report from your memories. You need to rest."

She took his right hand in hers and with her left hand began her own diagnostic on the boy. After a few minutes she checked the list already made by the doctor and added a few more mixtures to try. When she was done the doctor left the room to prepare the remedies.

"Senji." Tsunade began. "How long have you known that you were like this?"

He looked down slightly with a sad grimace on his face. With a sigh he explained

"I've had this for at least thirteen days, possibly more. I can't remember the exact date- *cough* that we- we engaged Zetsu. But- the actual symptoms was-*cough*, they appeared-

"I understand Senji. I'm going to sedate you. The less energy you expend the better."

After the injection a crash could be heard as all eyes looked towards Suonyo's now awaken form, struggling to get up despite the doctor's desperate pleas for her to calm down.

Shino's gloved hands quickly relieved the doctor as he restrained Suonyo onto the bed and the doctor went to get more sedative.

"Let me go! Damnit bug boy!"

Tsunade took away the injection from the doctor and approached the angry kunoichi before her.

"Calm down Suonyo! Or help me Kami I'll sedate you too!"

Suonyo instantly stopped her thrashing but her muscles remained tense and Shino cautiously kept his hands secured to her arms.

"You can let her go Shino, she'll behave." Stated Tsunade resting the injection on a medical tray.

He backed away instantly noticing the tears starting to fall from her face. Tsunade enveloped her in a hug letting her lean her head on her shoulder.

"It's okay Suonyo, you couldn't have known." Tsunade gently rocked the young girl back and forth trying to ease her tears

"No! It's not! If I had known- Why didn't he tell me?! I- I would have use the jutsu! I could have gotten us here faster. I should have realised he was lying, I should have-

"No, Suonyo." Tsunade responded firmly "You couldn't have had enough chakra for that jutsu, I mean just look at you. There was nothing anyone could have done and dwelling on it will only make matters worse."

After a burst of chakra was felt throughout the room a figure suddenly appeared at the window

"Tsunade! Shizune told me you were here and I- Wait, what the hell is going on!?" leaping down from his perch on the window sill Jiraiya ran over to the girl in Tsunade's arms. Concern evident on his features whike Tsunade looked anything but happy.

"Jiraiya, baka! Don't you know this is a hospital! Keep your voice DOWN!"

~ On the border of Earth country and Amegakure~

She looked over to her companion in silent apprehension. Both of them had felt the dread that had started to claw through their chests just days before but neither of them would acknowledge it. If something went wrong they would have been the first to know. And besides, the Amegakure insignias emblazoned on their newly adorned headbands was enough of a reminder to both of them how dangerous their previous mission in Iwagakure was turning out. Retreat was never their thing, but it was better than their alternative. A quick return trip to Amegakure to restock and they would be off again.

Now it was his turn to wonder. His partner was many things but silent was not one of them. The silence was uncomfortable and very unwelcome at the moment. Though he could guess at her sorrow he could only hope that they could succeed in their mission and finally return home.

Despite their thoughts being full of speculations at the moment both of the trained ninja caught the sight of the large, inconspicuous bird of prey with the red band around its leg. Now usually carrier birds, especially the kages' own special breed, which could be identified by the bands, were not only the fastest birds alive but also the most elusive and inconspicuous. The fact that this bird was flying directly into open air in a straight line with no qualms about trying to remain hidden could only mean that it was ordered to fly as quickly to its destination as possible. This meant no time was to be wasted for stealth. This also meant that any enemy ninja who happened to see its path would be foolish to not take the opportunity to try and learn another country's secrets which was exactly why at the sound of his partners halted steps he increased his pace to get as far away from within her range, opting to jump from the field they were currently running through into the nearby tree line.

With a mighty yell "Suiton: Daihōdan!" (Water Style: Great Cannon Ball Jutsu) a large stream of water erupted from her mouth and surrounded the bird's body in a bubble which floated down to the female ninja. A wide grin appeared on her face and her partner knew that at least some semblance of her usual rowdiness was back. She had already retrieved the scroll from the very aggravated bird when her partner appeared by her side. "Huh, well at least they had the sense to seal the damn thing. I can't figure out how to open it for the life of me."

"Here let me try." Responded her partner. Taking the scroll from her outstretched one he placed the scroll between his hands as he clapped his hands together and with amazing speed performed the boar, tiger, serpent, horse, ox and rat seals in quick succession before yelling "Kai!"

The scroll slid open and he too grinned up at his partner. " Wasn't that hard after recognizing the Fūinjutsu: Shishi Heikō (Sealing Jutsu: Breaking the Lion's Roar). I believe elder Chiyo of Sunagakure made this herself."

His partner could only roll her eyes at him. Only he would boast of his own nerdiness as she called it. Both Nin peered down to the information inside and after a few seconds the two ninja leapt towards the trees and disappeared as fast as their legs could carry them with the scroll and Tsubasa, the bird in hand. Utilizing the male's wind style ninjutsu the pair would arrive within a few hours maybe even less if he used that technique.

~Konoha Interrogation and Torture Division~

The structure of the building seemed no different or particularly unique compared to the rest of the village. It maintained the standard square-ish shape, with few windows and customary wooden fixtures around the roof and doorways. Painted in the boring brown and off white tones of most buildings in the village. To any casual observer they might say that it was a regular, albeit petite dwelling place for the many civilian residents, but to anyone else, to the trained eye of the ANBU blackops staked out on the surrounded rooftops hidden from sight and with their chakra signatures dampened to lessen sensory detection; one could almost say that the architecture was too normal, too common…and that the inside of the house was altogether too quiet.

Shizune briskly entered the office and composed herself before walking up to the desk in the right corner of the room next to which was a door which seemed to lead back to the exterior of the house. There were also two other doors adjacent from each other. The desk and chair behind it were the only furniture in the entire space. Shizune walked up to the guard behind the desk, a young Chuunin.

"I need to speak with Ibiki-san and Anko-san; it's an emergency directive from Hokage-sama."

With the presence of Lady Hokage's own right hand man…or in this case woman the nin couldn't help but be nervous in her presence. Reaching under the desk his hand shook slightly as he grabbed a blue leather bound book and a pen which Shizune signed her name in.

"U-uh, Ibiki-san, s-sh-should be uh-"

Shizune slammed her hand down on the desk causing some of the wood to splinter and two ANBU immediately appeared in the corner of the room, one behind Shizune anf one behind the frightened ninja.

"Would you please just say it! I am sorry to be rude but I simply don't have the time to waste here."

The ANBU behind the ninja quickly bowed and proceeded to explain

"Shizune-san, our apologies! He is still quite new in the field, it is why they have had to place him behind a desk instead."

Before the ninja could protest the ANBU pushed him down to bow his head as well. The ANBU behind her then stepped forward

"I believe that today is Anko's day off, but Ibiki-san should be finished his latest interrogation by now. I believe it's the door to the left."

The chuunin nodded in confirmation and Shizune was out the door in a flash. As soon as Shizune stepped through the door she was teleported to the underground chambers of the real Torture and Interrogation division. Where, after a less eventful chat with the main guards she made her way to Ibiki's personal office. At that same moment the right door opened and Murino Ibiki stepped put and into the normally serene, and boring primary office only to be faced by two ANBU blackops and one shaking chuunin. After a short conversation he made his way back into the underground bunker where Shizune should be looking for him.

~Konoha Hospital~

Wary of Tsunade's obviously stressed out state Jiraiya made his way into the room and placed a hand tentatively on her tensed back. Suonyo still rocked gently in her arms. With one glimpse at Senji he could guess what all the sadness was about and with his newly acquired info it would be a rather educated guess. With a sigh he began.

"Let me guess. These two just came back from their mission against the Akatsuki. Things obviously didn't go as planned. And-

"Jiraiya." Tsunade moved to face him a low warning in the tones of her voice

"Now isn't the time for this."

"No." All eyes turned to Suonyo, her remaining cuts now bandaged and dressed in hospital clothing; it was hard to recognize the mournful spirit sitting in front of them as the sassy ninja that they had met just a day ago.

"If Jiraiya has something to say, questions to be asked that he needs answers to. I'll answer them. The mission comes first."

"The mission always comes first."

Tsunade looked from one sibling to the other. She understood what they had gone through, what emotional and physical torture they had endured at such a young age. This was obviously a defense mechanism for their now more freely expressed emotions, because that was the only thing that would explain the hollow sounding monotonous tones of their voices. After all the years of progress, this one mission was enough that it just might break them. Tsunade and Jiraiya shared a knowing look. They were just kids after all. Hadn't they gone through enough?

"Go ahead Jiraiya. Report."

Ino could only look at her master in disbelief. Now was not the time for this. They needed to rest. The girl Sukyo or Suonyo or whoever was obviously emotionally unstable. Just as she stepped forward to voice her opinion her colleague beat her to it.

"Tsunade-sama with all due respect I do not think that is a wise course of action."

Everyone seemed stunned. Not at the obvious accusation but rather at the person who chose to deliver it. Shino walked carefully over to the right side of Suonyo's bed and stared at her intently. Her face as well as her brothers were the only ones that remained unchanged emotionless masks. The tension was almost tangible as Shino let out a sigh and directed his attention to the Hokage.

"I don't believe that either of them, especially…her, Suonyo are in the right frame of mind for any type of briefing no matter how minimal."

Tsunade's surprise finally dispersed and she was left feeling cold inside. He didn't understand. None of them do. None of them are supposed to. But there was no turning back now. It wasn't the first time they had reverted back to their old selves. It was just the first time that it had happened so quickly and completely. Before, the only way to snap them out of it was to let them lead their 'mission' as authorized and continue their lives from mission to mission as they had been trained until they finally came out of it. The most it ever lasted was 3 days. Tsunade could only hope that this time wouldn't be as bad.

"I'm sorry Shino. All of you. You don't understand. You shouldn't have been caught up in this mess in the first place but please, just trust me. I understand your concern, I won't berate you for it. It one of the many admirable qualities of Konoha ninja. Caring for ones comrades. Even ones you've only recently encountered. All will be explained but for now…just trust us. Trust me."

She eyed each ninja and all of them in turn nodded their approval. Then jiraiya's story began.

WOOOT! DONE. OK what to expect next chapter…let's see

"What the hell…HAVE YOU DONE TO MY BABIES!"

"Anko!"

"You are NOT my parents!"

"From the Chezemakei Clan"

"He'll be dead within the week, a slow…and agonizing death unless…"

That's enough spoilers for now remember every OTHER week

Read and Review. THANKX! :)