Okay all. Here's chapter thirteen. I hope you all like it. Thanks to everyone who read, reviewed or added me to their faves and alert lists. I appreciate it greatly and hopefully I've answered all reviewers personally.

To my anonymous reviewer, mlp, I'm glad that you think this fic gets better by the chapter. Also thanks loads for reviewing. I really appreciate it.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Lost.

Chapter Thirteen – Switch and Bait! Sai Finds An Answer!

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Naruto had just finished doing the grocery shopping. He'd decided to give Sakura a break. That was when he noted the old council member, Danzo, standing near Ichiraku ramen. "Naruto!" Danzo called him over. Naruto looked at him more closely and saw a mission scroll in his hand.

"Danzo-San?" Naruto asked.

"This is a mission from Hokage-Sama. It's imperative that you do it right away." Danzo stated coldly. Naruto stared at Danzo.

"Tsunade-Sama didn't tell me about this. I only saw her yesterday." Naruto replied.

"Well we are running low on manpower. So we need you to go on this mission. It's nothing special. Just a D rank. A farm detail. It's nothing big. But seeing as we have so much piling up, I'm sure you can do this mission in no time." Danzo quipped. Naruto shrugged and took the mission scroll.

"Of course I can do it. Are you sure Tsunade-Sama is alright with this?" Naruto asked. He felt like he needed to confirm it.

"Of course Naruto. She sent me to give this to you because she hasn't had the chance to see you today." Danzo replied.

"Okay. Thanks Danzo-San." Naruto said cheerfully. He went off with the mission scroll and the grocery bags. Danzo just smirked.

"That brat was always far too gullible." Danzo thought to himself nastily as he left the vicinity. After all, he didn't want to be caught dead outside a ramen stand, any longer then he had to be. He shuffled away little realising that he had been seen by Teuchi and Ayame, both wondering if Naruto was alright. Neither one of them had heard the whole conversation.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Sai had been working on how to get past the seal on his tongue all night. It was mid day now and one thought had popped into his head. It was so ludicrously easy and simple that he wasn't sure it would work, but he had to try. After all, this wasn't just to get his freedom of speech back. He was doing this to save Naruto's life. To save the life of a comrade. He grabbed a large notebook and started writing. He started writing about Danzo. Nothing happened to his seal. He almost gave way to a smirk as he started writing everything he knew down. "I never thought of writing things down before. Then again this seal stops me talking. No one ever said I couldn't write what I'm thinking." Sai thought to himself as he wrote at an extremely fast pace.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Naruto arrived home and put the groceries away quickly. Sakura walked into the kitchen. "What's the rush Naruto?" She asked gently.

"I've got a solo mission from Baa-Chan! It's just some cleaning up detail on a farm outside the village. I'll get it done in no time." Naruto stated happily. He left the kitchen and went to his room. Sakura followed.

"Naruto have you thought sensibly about this? Did Tsunade give you the mission scroll herself?" Sakura asked.

"No. That old Council member, Danzo, gave me the scroll. He said there's been an increase in missions lately." Naruto replied happily. He grabbed his bag and placed a few supplies in it, before hefting it onto one shoulder.

"Naruto wait!" Sakura yelled as he walked towards the front door. "Naruto, Tsunade-Shishou said that we'd go on our missions together. She's talking about it to Kakashi-Sensei today." Sakura stated. Naruto shrugged.

"Well maybe she wants to see if I can handle myself at the moment." Naruto replied as he made to open the front door.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Sasuke was busy training. He felt the need to go off by himself sometimes. After all, Uchihas need time to brood. Sasuke started practising his taijutsu on a poor unfortunate post as he wondered exactly what his other teammates were up to.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Itachi had just arrived back in the village. He'd finished a small mission. He was only allowed D ranks until Tsunade could assure the council of his loyalty. Itachi didn't complain. That was when he noticed Naruto walking out of the gates of the village, mission scroll in hand. Itachi glared thoughtfully. "Tsunade-Sama told me that Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura weren't going on any missions until she and Kakashi thought they were ready. Especially after all they've been through. They were going to discuss it today. She wouldn't have let Naruto go on a mission on his own." Itachi thought to himself. He watched as Naruto carried on walking away from the village. "I'll follow him. I have a bad feeling about this." Itachi thought to himself as he leapt from his hidden spot and started after the blond. After all, Uchihas followed their instincts.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

"So Kakashi do you think they've sufficiently recovered after everything they've all been through?" Tsunade asked. She and Kakashi were in her office.

"I think so. Sakura seems to have taken on a big sister role to Sasuke and Naruto. She tends to be protective of them. Since Itachi has been living there, he's become a protective big brother to all of them. Naruto is a lot calmer. His memories have almost completely returned. He's a lot more patient and spends time with Sasuke, trying to teach him how to control the demon within him. That way if it ever tries to break loose Sasuke will have a back-up plan. Sasuke seems to have gotten over most of the shock that learning about his family caused. He's eating properly, he's healthy and he trains with Sakura, Naruto, Itachi and myself. He does take time to train by himself, though I don't consider it to be a bad thing. Sakura has had a few run ins with Seido Haruno but she seems to be taking care of herself, and when she can't one of us step in for her. All in all they've really matured." Kakashi replied.

"What about missions? Do you think they're ready for them?" Tsunade asked. Kakashi nodded.

"I think we're ready. Of course we need to worry about Akatsuki. We also need to worry about whether they know about Sasuke or not. That and Naruto's safety as a well-known Jinchuriki. But if we don't start going on missions again I'm sure Naruto and Sasuke will start getting bored. Sakura, Sasuke and Naruto have all been practising hard. They've also been working with that Sai kid. He seems to have gotten a little attached to Naruto." Kakashi replied. Tsunade smirked.

"That's a wonder in its self. From what I've heard of the boy, he doesn't generally talk, or get attached, to anyone. Most of his missions are blacked out. That's only to be expected as he's in Anbu ROOT but I also have to think about whether or not Danzo can be trusted." Tsunade stated.

"He can't." Tsunade and Kakashi turned to look at Sai. The Sasuke lookalike looked as though he'd run all the way to the tower. "You have to read these notes I've written. I can't speak about him. But writing seems to be no problem." Sai stated. Tsunade stared in shock.

xXxXxXxXxXxXx

Itachi had followed Naruto out of the village for about ten miles, when he sensed familiar chakra. It was faint, but Itachi recognised it. That was when Kisame jumped out in front of Naruto. Itachi glared angrily. "You were trying to mask your chakra Kisame, yet I could practically smell your fishy presence." Itachi thought to himself.

"Kisame?" Naruto yelled angrily.

"You might as well give yourself up kid. You can't beat me by yourself." Kisame stated. Itachi jumped down from his spot.

"He's not by himself." Itachi quipped. Kisame smirked.

"I don't know why you're getting involved Itachi. The boy isn't your brother really. That and you know you can't win." Kisame hissed. That was when Naruto grinned in a way that Itachi thought was off.

"Naruto? What's wrong?" Itachi asked. Naruto stared at Kisame coldly.

"Itachi can't give up Naruto when Naruto isn't here." Naruto said. Then there was a puff of smoke, and Sakura stood in Naruto's place.