Chapter 24

Pein took his seat next to the Mizukage. Gaara was the only one of the Kages not present at the moment as he was on the battlefield leading the troops. The Akatsuki members and I lined up in front of them. Deidara bounced his son on his hip comfortably. Konan took her place behind Pein's chair.

"On your way out, receive the map from me on where you will be defending. Work in your pairs…" Pein ordered. "Bailey, you will go to the very edge of the battlefield and place down the radar so we can use that to our advantage. It is also your and Itachi's mission to persuade Sasuke back over to the Shinobi side. If you feel confident, you may engage in battle with Madara, but do not do so alone." He waved his hand. "Dismissed."

We all bowed and went over to Pein for our assignments. I received the radar device, having already learned how to set it up from previous missions. I was about to leave when Tsunade called me over to her.

"Bailey, please try to find and reconcile with Mitchell. I've seen your teamwork. No one can match it. He is your best bet on surviving this war," she told me. I nodded. "Now go. We need as much of an advantage as we can get." I bowed once more and made my exit.

I, once again, wrapped my cloak tighter around myself. The feeling of death was only getting stronger as I ran out further into the battlefield. I subconsciously shivered from it all and was forced to stop running in order to calm the feeling.

Before I could continue on my way, I heard a very familiar scream. Her name and face flashed through my mind as I took off in the direction in which it came. Tenten… I crashed through the trees and ran out onto the beach.

I saw a zombie-like shinobi with a Suna headband looming over Tenten. Her thigh was cut and bleeding. It looked like her arm was broken. To put it simply, she didn't look too good. I also noticed that there were weapons scattered everywhere and there was a blank scroll right behind her head.

"Tennie!" I shouted. I threw a kunai straight into the Suna shinobi's head. He fell back and off of her. She quickly scrambled away from him as I drew closer. Before he could get up after regenerating, I slammed my hand onto his chest, sealing his soul away.

As soon as his soul was sealed, I turned my attention back over to Tenten. She had dragged herself back behind one of the many rocks that littered the shore. I quickly headed over to her. "Bailey, w-what are you doing here?" Tenten asked backing away from me.

"Here, give me your arm. I'll heal it up for you," I told her squatting down. She backed further away. "I'm on your side," I reassured. I showed her my Shinobi headband. She finally gave me her arm for me to heal it.

"I'm sorry, but Tsunade had you listed in the bingo book. We all assumed you were out to kill us," she told me as I healed her arm.

"That was a mission for Tsunade. I'll explain in more detail later," I turned my attention to her leg. "When this war is over, I'll make everything clear."

A sudden explosion occurred behind me. I turned around and saw a giant seal. I heard a shriek come from my crystal. Obviously, Tenten didn't hear it because she didn't even flinch. It is impossible not to from the ear-piercing sound.

"I have to go. Stay alert out there, Tennie. I told her before I sprinted off into the forest once again. The Junibi did not like the power being sealed. It must have been something with evil intentions since she rejected it so much.

When I was over a mile away from the beach, I slowed my pace down to conserve my energy. I was among the many battles of war. If I can't run away or fight, I'd be screwed.

I checked my position with my Byakugan. About 300 meters to my left, two shinobi were fighting off three of the white Zetsu. About 600 meters in front of me was a giant clearing rigged with booby traps and snares. I saw a few shinobi camped out a little way off, watching and waiting as if one of our enemies was stupid enough to fall for it.

I decided to go to my right because I couldn't see anyone that way. I quickly crossed the distance, keeping my Byakugan activated so as to not run into any enemies. However, as I ran, I almost felt as if I were being followed. I checked everywhere with my Byakugan, but I couldn't see anyone near enough to be following me.

I continued on towards my placed position. I passed the area where Sasori and Deidara were helping Gaara and his troops. I even passed by Kisame and Itachi who were helping out Kakashi and Kankuro's groups. But, my position was still further than that.

When I was far enough away so I could see no one in all directions, I reached in for the device Pein had given me. I began the long process of activating the radar. If one hair were out of place, it wouldn't work.

I had learned this whilst in the Akatsuki. With the help of the device, I can set up radar that's connected back to the Kage meeting room. I buried the device three feet under the ground and began to lace my chakra into it. However, just as soon as I had placed enough chakra in to activate it, I felt someone tackle me violently.

I rolled out of the arms and moved away to get a look at my attacker. It was… Mitchell. Before I could say anything to him, he lunged at me once more. Dodging the attack, I finally formed the words I needed to say to him, even though they probably aren't the words the person you stabbed and are in love with would want you to say the first time they see you. "Please Mitchell, I'm on your side!" I yelled dramatically.

He stopped and I saw his eyes narrow in anger. "You're on my side?" he growled. "Very funny traitor!" he barked out as he drew his sword and lashed out at me.

"Mitchell, please believe me! I was only following orders," I cried desperately drawing my katana to block the incoming blade. Our swords clashed, creating small sparks from metal hitting metal.

"Like I'll believe that. That's exactly what you said the last time. Now isn't that right, Uchiha?" he spat through clenched teeth. We pushed apart from each other, regaining our bearings from the sword-to-sword stand off. I felt a stab in my heart from the fact that he wasn't referring to me as Bailey like he used to.

"I-I," I tried to answer him, but my mind had yet to fully process the words he had just said. I dodged another of his attacks but couldn't dodge the kick he delivered straight into my jaw. I flew back and landed hard on my back on the ground, getting the wind knocked out of me.

"This is the second time you've broken my heart. How much longer do you want to use me as your plaything? Because now, I can't take it anymore!" he yelled at me. He lifted his sword and stabbed it straight down at me. Rage burned liked fire in his eyes. I closed mine, getting ready for the inevitable. If he wanted to kill me, than let him. If he, of all people, hated me, I deserved to die.

The pain never came. I heard him collapse beside me, along with the sound of muffled sobbing. I opened my eyes and found the sword right next to my body, barely missing my neck. I quickly sat up. "M-Mitchell…" I stuttered. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders. Instantly, he wrapped his arms around me and buried his head into my cloak.

"Just answer this one question for me," he whispered to me between his sobs. "Was any of that in Kiri real? The kiss, our long talk, was it real?"

I pulled out of the embrace and looked him straight in his eyes; those blue eyes that made me fall so hard form him. With my own tears threatening to fall, I honestly answered him, "Every single bit of it. I wasn't given the order until the attack." I suppressed the need to giggle at what I was going to say before I continued. "I was so pissed when I got back later that day, I even beat up our leader."

He chuckled slightly, his tears having been calmed. His laugh made my heart flutter. "Then prove it to me," he whispered leaning in closer to me. My heart sped up as he continued to get closer and closer.

Mustering up the courage, I pressed my lips against his I didn't hear the fantasy bells, nor did I feel a spark, but I swear, the second our lips met, I melted. It was almost as if we completed each other. The kiss didn't last long, this being both our first kiss, but it definitely had that lasting effect.

"I love you Bailey, more than I knew," he breathed.

"I-I love you, too. I think I always have," I answered. He leaned his forehead against mine.

"Aw, now isn't that cute?" a voice said behind us. I instantly tensed up, but relaxed only slightly when I realized it was Sasuke. "Too bad that I'm going to have to kill you for kissing my sister," he smirked.

It was Sasuke, not the evil demented Sasuke that was influenced by the snake pedophile – I mean Orochimaru, but my nice, sarcastic, and warm older brother Sasuke. "Are you on our side, the side of the shinobi?" I asked.

"Thanks to me!" Itachi said coming up right between Mitchell and me. "By the way, you're still touching my Imouto," Itachi smiled… sweetly. Mitchell removed his arms from around me and looked at Itachi with an almost scared expression.

"Aniki! Leave Mitchell alone. I've caused him more pain than he's caused me," I argued with them.

"Nope, it's time for his interrogation," Sasuke said coming up behind Mitchell while Itachi got right in his face. Kisame came up behind me and rested a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry about him. Kakashi gave him sugar," Kisame stated sadly. My eyes widened. Oh Kami-sama, this wasn't good.

"What are your intentions with our sister? How long have you loved her? Do you have a steady job?" Before Itachi could continue his questioning, Sasuke smacked him up the head.

"Seriously man? He's an ANBU taichou!" Sasuke cut in. Itachi ignored him.

"How many girlfriends have you been with? Are you still a virgin?" It was my turn to slap Itachi.

"Seriously man? You don't need to know that!" I yelled at him. The way I said that, anyone could tell that Sasuke and I were brother and sister.

"Well, I want you to be with an experienced man! Kisame was-" Itachi started but I cut him off. Mitchell was just sitting there silently with the look of a deer in headlights on his face.

"How do you even know if I'm still virgin?" I asked him, stunned everyone except Kisame who was now rolling on the ground laughing his ass off. "Don't worry, I still am," I said looking at the murderous expressions on all three of their faces.

"Um, guys… we're in the middle of a war. Can we continue this later?" Kisame cut in once he picked himself off the forest floor.

"Fine…" Itachi's figurative cat ears went down and with his figurative cat tail between his legs. He went over to Kisame and was ready to head back to the battle when a ball of fire shot past us.

"Well, well, well, what do we have her?" Madara asked from a tree above us. I growled and rose to my feet.

"Madara." I spat.

I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. One more chapter and the epilogue left. The next chapter is going to be intense but I can't guarantee that it'll be long. Anyway, I hope to get the chapter out next week since I want to finish this before the end of the month.