Hello Loves! Its been a while hasn't it?! Oh well no need to dwell!

Disclaimer: I do Not own Naruto!

Ninja Clash! Of Nightmares and Daydreams

.;:Chapter Six: Tea, Traitors & The Journey:;.

Part One: Tea

Sasuke peered at the girl beside him with an unusual and foreign interest. He wasn't into the whole relationship thing nor did he find the girl as a potential partner after he finished his lifelong goal. It wasn't that he found her, appealing to the eye just…completely unfathomable. He didn't know her intentions or thoughts or past, or why she is the way she is—strangely that stole his curiosity.

Akari's eyes stayed transfixed on the droplets of venom that poured from the sky as if something else entirely different were in front of her eyes. Those eyes he realized were the eyes he's seen in Naruto and more so…in himself—

He turned away, That's enough, he told himself, keep thinking like this and you'll end up just like Naruto…you are no savior—helping people triumph over their past isn't what you do—you are an avenger! And this is a test to help you get stronger…to see the limits of your ability—

"Sasuke?"

He blinked wildly and turned his unfocused eyes toward the girl who had spoken.

"You okay?" Akari grinned, flicking his leaf headband, "You looked crazed for a second there."

Sasuke closed his eyes and shrugged the girl away, "I was thinking. You realize you have an annoying tendency to interrupt my thoughts."

He could practically feel the rolling of her eyes, "I'll ignore the last bit…but," she started, he felt a shift on the tree, "You should probably stay away from thoughts like that…it looked as if you were planning to murder someone."

Sasuke's eyes opened to a half opened stare, his eyes encouraging her to back off, "That really isn't any of your concern."

A look crossed over her face and he expected a lashing reply but instead her face fell into a melancholy smile, "You don't have to be so hostile you know…" he finally noticed she was standing, and how mature she looked as the back drop behind her dwindled down to a mist before disappearing completely. "We're a lot alike in that way—except I came to the realization that every word spoken isn't always a statement someone would use to break me. Maybe…"

He rose to his feet frowning slightly as she pranced toward him, "It was only a simple statement with no ulterior motive what so ever." She reached forward and tapped him on the head band with two fingers, "Don't be such a narcissist…aye Uchiha?"

Itachi… he blinked and smirked, "Whatever."

Sasuke walked past her and silently watched as the battleground became visible and the fog drifted away, "Your Jutsu ended," he stared forward, "We should get going. The Princess is waiting for you."

Akari beamed, "I know."

Sakura's head whirled around and tried to find Sasuke and the Princess, but she couldn't seem to find them anywhere.

"Argh!"

Sakura rolled her eyes, "What now Naruto?"

"This is just like Sasuke! Keeping the Princess all to himself! Just you wait I'll get that bas—" His sentence was muffled by Sakura's unexpected punch.

Naruto's body went sailing. "Hey! What was that for!" he sobbed rubbing his now lumpy head.

"Just shut up Naruto!" she growled raising her fists daring him to make a sound, "One more word from you and its over. You hear me Naruto!"

"What is all the commotion?" Kakashi asked, nonchalantly walking in on the spectacle a man thrown over his shoulder. "And here I thought we could all get along."

"Tell that to Naruto, Kakashi-sensei," Sakura's expression changed dramatically, "You got one?!"

He nodded and walked over to where they were. "Here," he handed them some wire, "Tie him up so he won't topple over, he's badly injured. He's fading in and out of consciousness; we need our guest here to answer a few questions."

Kakashi handed the material to Sakura, "Kakashi-sensei, where are you going?"

Glancing around he replied, "To find Hitenzo—wait! There he is," he smiled as the giant tiger sauntered into view carrying a disheveled old man on his back. He looked on the edge of tears; unable to form words…or sounds for that matter. "For a moment there we thought we had lost you." He said cheerily as the shocked expression of the man slowly fell out of place. It was soon replaced by sheer loathing.

"Get. Me. Down. This. INSTANCE!" he commanded as the tiger finally came to stop beside Kakashi. Sakura cringed at the ridiculously high pitch the man was able to produce; he was not a very happy man.

"Um, sure," Kakashi replied uneasily, "Here let me help you—watch your step—there."

Although he was now planted firmly on the ground the sour expression did not fade from the man's face but instead panic now eased onto the plane of bitterness as he searched his surroundings.

Sakura frowned as the realization set in, "Uh-oh." No Akari means, no happy Mr. Hitenzo.

"W-What have you done with L-Lady Akari!" he screamed before collapsing in a heap, his scream waking up their prisoner.

Akari felt her insides drop as the ear splitting scream filled the air. She cringed as goose bumps crawled over her skin.

"Maybe we shouldn't have waited," she told Sasuke as she gauged his expression, it being similar to hers. They both heard the shrill scream, but it didn't seem to faze him as much.

"We had no choice," he replied as the two walked forward, "You said yourself that it would be best to let the mist clear a little before advancing. We still have to be careful…like I said before, we were fighting mostly clones—"

She frowned and kicked a stone in her way. Akari didn't like the tone he was using, like he was explaining things to a child.

"—the actual shinobi could be hiding anywhere. If we walk in there blind, it would only be too easy for them to pick us off."

"Alright, I get it. But…" Akari let out a sigh, "Hitenzo's really worried…I don't like it when he worries about me."

"Why?" the word came out before he could stop himself but she answered none the less.

"It's not something I'm used to," her voice didn't betray her but that look on her face did, "No one ever worries about an extra."

Akari's eyes narrowed slightly as four huddled figures came into view. To the right of them a large mound of fur lay outstretched by a nearby tree a growl rippling from its belly. Yorimaru must really dislike that tree.

As they walked further in the figures started to gain faces and they were no longer just random blobs of color. Her eyes immediately traveled to Hitenzo who was being fanned by a grumpy Naruto, and prodded by Kakashi and Sakura. Wow, they were a wreck!

She ran the rest of the distance toward them and exclaimed, "What happened here? Are you okay, Tenzo!?"

The old man's eyes opened suddenly to the sound of that voice, tears gathered as his weary expression slid to the floor. Sudden relief came from the shinobi surrounding the nobleman; apparently Hitenzo had fainted when he realized she wasn't there. That's odd, she thought as her eyes scanned his expression, he's never been this worried about me before. Sure he doesn't like it when I leave to go to the Cloud or stay out to late and he harasses me when I disappear without his knowledge. But when I'm at the palace I'm the last thing on his mind. So why all the theatrics?

"Lady Akari!" Hitenzo's robes fluttered about him as he scrambled to his feet and bolted towards her. Akari had barely enough time to form a stunned expression before the man's balding head was buried in her stomach. She gasped and coughed as the wind was knocked out of her. However, she didn't stumble as she realized how frail the man had actually become. He had been losing weight, a lot of it. This whole situation must be taking its toll on him, her stomach dropped at the sight of him. He wasn't the same. He needed…me. Maybe he always did and I was just too stubborn to realize it. She sighed, and wrapped her arms around his convulsing form.

"Hey, Hitenzo?"

He didn't speak but looked up to peer into her magenta eyes.

"You…don't have to worry about me okay? And I really need you to not cry," her words were soothing as she spoke them softly, like one would speak to a child, "I just couldn't take seeing you cry again…okay? Please—no more tears. I'm right here, I'm not leaving you."

"Oh, M'Lady! You are so kind!" he screeched as the sobbing became louder and his words inaudible.

Kakashi scratched his head as Akari mouthed 'Help Me',"Um…forgive me but we really need to discuss this mission—"

"The mission? The mission!" Hitenzo said jubilantly cleaning himself up, "Right! But first things first Lady Akari must change!"

His scrutinizing gazes rapidly found every wrinkle and bend in the clothing. Then what she seemed to be wearing hit him hard, "What are you wearing! This is hardly appropriate for a Princess of your stature to be wearing!"

A sweat dropped. That was random.

"Hitenzo I had this on the entire time, and anyway I wear this because it doesn't limit my movements, besides the Raikage had it made just to fit my special skills." She explained waving her hands in front of herself to paint a picture.

"But so much skin…your torso is showing!"

Sakura saw nothing wrong with it. She wore a sapphire sleeveless Chinese-style top, a silver trim ran from the left of the neck and down to the chest to stop suddenly. On her arms were long, draping sapphire sleeves that were held in place by 3-inch silver bands on her upper arms. The top stopped just below her chest and her flawless torso was very visible. She wore a sapphire skirt like thing that had four slits: one in the front, the back, on the left and on the right of her sides. It came down just barely fingertip length. Halfway down her thighs came net covering, a commonly used item for ninjas. Hers acted as tights. And on her right thigh was the standard suriken and kunai holder.

Sakura gapped she looked so regal even in her ninja gear which had a silky shine to them. It was specially designed material, Akari explained. The bands were titanium, specifically designed to work well with lightning (she didn't say why).

Finally after a good five to ten minutes of calming Hitenzo down the group gathered around to hear what Kakashi had planned.

"Listen up. In actuality, we don't have much information on the specifics of what happened. Just what was gathered when the Princess took missing," he continued, after making eye contact with each person sitting around him, "The palace guards reported seeing four ninja (we don't know this for sure) but they seemed too skilled in the art not to be. They were fast, too fast for the untrained eye to follow and guard against. They seemed to know exactly where to go as well, as if—"

"They've been there before," Sakura added engrossed.

"Or…as if,"Akari cringed away from the thought but continued ignoring her unease, "someone—someone in the palace or connected to it has given valuable information regarding the Clan and its secrets."

Kakashi and she locked gazes, his was firm, and she accepted it. Regardless of why someone dared to put their hands on her sister they would pay—they'd pay dearly!

"Exactly."

"So wait," Naruto cut in, "Since we know ninja are involved…"

"That's right," Kakashi spoke, nodding in confirmation, "This mission is no longer an A-rank but an S-Rank. I don't know how skilled the ninja were that infiltrated the palace but what I do know is that the ninja I fought was no rookie. He was jonin level, even with the sharingan, it was neck and neck. Still, something was off about him, it seemed as if the attack was merely a test to gauge our skill-level. Before, if they knew we were coming and didn't care to prepare, they know now that we are stronger than they thought—more resourceful, the ones that escaped will be reporting back and when we get there…they'll be ready.

He looked again to Akari, "Your move up there in the sky, cost us our element of surprise, but that's if we ever even had it. I'm not criticizing you, you did what you had to do to help your comrades, I'm just saying if they thought you'd only slow us down before they know now they were dead wrong…they will not underestimate you."

"No problem!" Naruto shouted, "I love a good handicap!" he folded his arms and gave his best grin.

Kakashi sighed with a smile, "You all have grown so much since the chunin exams I'm proud of all of you. And I mean that."

Akari glanced at their expressions and smiled warmly, I could get used to this, she thought, they're more than student and teacher…they're a family. A real one.

"Anyway, as I was saying, I think I have an idea of who the ringleader is, and I think you do to, don't you, Akari?" she faintly noticed he didn't address her as Lady or Princess when he said this, and the familiarity made her smile inwardly before her blood ran cold.

Her eyes widened for a moment and a burning sensation filled her stomach. Loathing for the retched bastard seeped into her brain, I should have guessed it. That man stated plainly that if he couldn't be head of the clan that he'd exterminate everyone else who fell into that category. Everyone else, was a side note but really he meant Revie.

"I just don't understand why he would wait so late; it just doesn't make any sense!"She exclaimed as her hands clenched into fists.

"Who is he?" Sakura asked, Hitenzo. She didn't want to ask Akari. She looked like she was about to destroy something and didn't want to bother her.

"No one knew he'd really meant what he said, and after Lord Kirin died we thought…he'd just let it go," Hitenzo's voice cracked with shame, "We didn't think Yoruken would destroy his own niece! Who would?!"

"A sick, disgusting excuse for a human being, that's who," Akari answered although she was sure the question was rhetorical, "My mother banished the sick monster, her own brother because she found out he was using his abilities to gather followers and create his own empire to overthrow all Ninja villages, including the Leaf," she added, pacing now ignoring all around her. She needed to hit something, if she didn't she didn't know what she'd do.

"Your uncle's doing all of this?" Sakura asked flabbergasted, "But—"

"That's just the way some people are Sakura," Sasuke unexpectedly intervened. His elbows rested on his knees and his hands were folded together hiding his nose. It was a position she recognized immediately, "They'd do anything if it meant more power. Even if anything means annihilating your entire family."

His words reached her and she realized what was said, this meant something to Sasuke, she thought, he felt the pain; Akari was on the brink of feeling. He knew it well and this beyond everything else was unforgivable. This act was worthy of revenge, worthy of dedicating your entire life to complete it. And for the first time she saw his side, and she agreed (for just a moment) this justified his means to an end.

Akari's eyes seemed to finally figure out what Yorimaru was growling at; her stomach lurched and she disappeared. In the next moment she was there, standing over the traitor, glaring down at his pale face, ginger hair and brown eyes.

She didn't hesitate as she pulled her hand back; there was a sudden jolt and a burst of light. Lightning danced around her fingertips and up her arm, ripping the fabric to shreds. The blue almost white light, shrouded out all sounds. Her heart beat frantically in her chest, "Takamaru!"

"Hey, Akari!" the red-haired boy yelled coming up to stop beside her. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing really," she responded as she measured her distance before letting the senbon fly, embedding themselves in the nearby target. They hit dead center, "Just target practice. Hey aren't you some big time ninja now? You can't be seen with the likes of us snooty Nobles, now can you?" she teased with a smile.

He clutched his chest and feigned hurt, "Mean aren't you? What's got you so sour?"

I haven't seen Itachi in a while; she thought but said, "Your presence disgusts me."

He wrapped his arms around her neck and pressed his chin into her hair, "You're so cute when you're feisty. Where's your bodyguard? I haven't seen Blondie around for a while, where's he anyway? Hiding behind a tree waiting to sneak up on me?"

"No," she frowned, "He's probably in my room waiting to ambush me again. Last time he almost kissed me before I put him in a headlock." She shuddered, "He's gotten faster."

"You're pretty popular with the boys, aren't you? You have a boyfriend yet?" he grinned tightening his grip on her as she squirmed.

"I'm eleven, idiot. Besides I don't have time—"

"Sure, sure that's what they all say," he cut in, "So when are we getting married anyway?"

She laughed, "I'm focused, don't distract me. Aren't I like four years younger than you?"

He shrugged, "I can wait. Besides I need a wife who kicks ass first and asks questions later. You being a filthy rich princess and all is a plus though." She elbowed him, "See what I mean? We're perfect for each other! Besides you have to admit…you like my hair."

She glanced sideways at his long, flaming orange hair. It was beautiful and shiny, blowing loosely in the wind.

"Girls love the hair," he said, "But…I have to say…yours is much prettier." She rolled her eyes, "and the pigtails are a nice touch." Her cheeks burned, and she didn't mention why she wore them but he knew why—they both did. Itachi complimented her on them the first time she wore them. It was a given that she'd keep them.

He pushed her bangs aside, "Anyway," she started as she drew more senbon, "What are you doing here of all places."

"I'm on break, besides I wanted to see my favorite girl and give you that belated birthday gift I owe you," he put his lips close to her ear, "You wanna know a secret…you'll love it!"

"Will I?" she said feigning disinterest. The two of them were friends, closer than close. He knew a lot about her, and she knew his every dream, thought and being and knew that no matter what he'd always have her back. There were a few she trusted with her life, and he was one of them.

"Yep," he said all cheerily, "Adore it. I wasn't going to tell you but I can't keep anything from you…I found…"she waited impatiently as he paused for dramatics, "Yorimaru a mate!"

She practically jumped ten feet, "You're kidding!" she exclaimed turning to face him, grabbing him into an embrace.

"Nope, she's perfect for him," he added, "the only stipulation is that she is my partner and you have equal visitation. No buts!"

"This is amazing! You're amazing!" she pulled him tighter as she dragged him to find Yorimaru.

"More amazing than your Itachi?" he asked all innocently.

She beamed, "You're getting there!"

She stopped as he stared at her with mournful eyes. She hasn't seen him in two years but she knew that look anywhere. There was something he wasn't telling her, something he wanted to, badly.

The lightning vanished and she fell to her knees in front of him. Clutching her head, shaking, "Why?" her voice broke but no tears came. Her throat was hot and she was finding it hard to breathe, this was too much.

"Akari, please," Takamaru started, "I did this for you—"

"What!" she screamed, it was all she could do not to fire up her lightning again, "HOW IS KIDNAPPING MY SISTER, For ME! Tell Me!"

"To warn you," his tone was even and his eyes calm. Hers was wild. "And to tell you where they have Kaori. I would have tried to help her escape but there was no way, I'd only be risking her life. Yoruken would kill her without hesitation. The only reason he's waiting is for you to be there too. He wants to execute you both at the same time, so you can die together."

Kakashi placed his hand on the shaking girl's shoulders, "He's telling the truth. I was watching him; your friend here was helping you fight the clones. He even took on some of the puppeteers, so to speak, there were too many and he got three before I intervened and they got away."

She looked to him, "Really?"

He nodded. She tackled him immediately, "Why didn't you say so you idiot! I could have killed you!"

Takamaru smiled as the girl pressed her head into him, "I was still trying to heal my wounds," she noticed the green energy surrounding both hands that were at his sides; "You never did pay much attention to me, did you?" she laughed.

"Kakashi-sensei?" Sasuke asked, "You were saying something before, Akari freaked out."

"I heard that!" she said turned away from him.

"I don't remember trying to whisper," he said blankly.

"Ah, yes," Kakashi continued, "We'll need back up—"

Kakashi bit his thumb. They all knew what came next.

"Pakun, I need you to go to the leaf and inform the Hokage of the current situation," Kakashi quickly briefed him, "We will wait and meet you at the north border between Fire country and Hot Springs country. I've been informed that the location of their hide out is on in island outside of—"

"Tea Country," Akari said automatically