Author's Note: PLEASE REVIEW! Jesus! So far the story only has one review? Dang.. I thought it was pretty good. \: If you like the story, and want to see more, please revieeeew guys. I beg you with all my heart and love of Chacon! Anyways: Yeah I've been very slow lately getting updates.. but I do have life to deal with and have been getting sidetracked.
I do not own Naruto or and Original Characters.

CH 8 :

.:. .:.

Torches lit the stone-filled corridor. The flames' shadows danced on the floor made of cobblestone as the gaps of darkness shrunk and expanded. His footsteps echoed off the walls and amplified around him, though would die and be replaced with new steps.
After a long, darkened walk that inclined deeper and deeper into the earth's crust, he came to a wooden door splintered and worn with age. His pale hands gripped the cool metal handle tightly. With a heavy, forced push the door opened.

Inside was a large open room. Stone pillars had carvings of serpents that seemed to wrap from top to bottom.
The only light in the entire room was from torches hitched on the walls all around the room and two large oil-filled structures that sat in the middle of the room.

A throne directly across from where he stood was occupied. Two smaller chairs beside it made the throne seem even mightier. The seat to the right was taken. "We figured you had died when you left to relax in your hot spring." A hissing voice, low and calm spoke.

He looked on, raven eyes piercing serpentine. "Obviously I haven't. I got caught up training." A pair of glasses reflected the little light, hiding his eyes in the glare. "So it took you six months to come back? Lord Oorochimaru and I missed your company."

He rolled his eyes. "I only came to see if Guren was here."

"Why is that?"

"I have a message for her." He turned and began to leave.

A smirk crawled up Oorochimaru's features. "I have a feeling our little Sasuke is keeping something from us."

.:.:.:.:.

"We have to leave in the morning." Temari said. She wanted to go find her brother now, but Shikamaru told her to be rational about their situation. "We will Temari. Calm down. First Kiba and Kotetsu have to get better." Ino stated calmly.

Kage opened the paper door from the kitchen. "Dinner is ready." She smiled.
Shikamaru, Ino, Temari and Izumo stood; heading into the kitchen and sitting at the table filled with dishes. "Now eat what you want and don't be shy." Kage giggled. Sakura joined her team at the table smiling as well.

"Thanks for the food Ace." Izumo looked at her kindly. The others joined in and filled their plates with various types of food. Ino looked at the older girl walking to the sink to wash the pots and pans used to cook. "Aren't you going to eat Ace?"

She shook her head. "Don't mind me."

"She never eats until her guests have." Izumo chuckled. "She's weird like that." Sakura looked at the black-haired woman. Her back was turned to them, and the pink haired medic frowned slightly. "I wouldn't call it weird. Its being generous."

"Well." Kage began. "I would rather have the people that stop by have their energy restored. It's not like I do anything special around here anyways."

"Why don't you come help us?" Temari blurted.

Everything got eerily quiet. The shinobi looked at the blonde, shocked. Temari looked past the stares. "You're great with medical ninjutsu, Sakura can teach you some defenses if you nee-"

Izumo looked at the girl with a tight frown. "I don't think Ace-"

"I will."

Izumo looked at her, shocked. Kage turned, showing a forced smile. "I'll go."

.:.:.:.:.

"You can't be serious?" Izumo glared. "You know the Akatsuki is still looking for you right?"

Kage sighed and leaned against the wooden chair she sat in. Izumo and the un-natural black haired woman were sitting in the back yard, everyone else was asleep. "I know. I just have a feeling I need to go."

He kicked at the flooring beneath his heel. "Kage, what if you just ignored those feelings for once?"

'She better not.' Tamiko growled. 'The last time she did- you should remember Izumo- you and Kotetsu told her to stay when the Sound attacked those villages. Hundreds died and she could have helped them.'

"We didn't want Oorochi-"

'Do you not understand how terrible and guilty she felt?'

Izumo looked to the ground. His eyes searching for a possible excuse. "What if Kiba and Kotetsu won't be able to make the journey?"

'You know they will. Kage has spectacular healing abilities and you can't deny it.'

Kage smiled at Izumo. He and Kotetsu were the only ones that Tamiko had linked minds with, and the only ones who could hear him. They both knew about Kage's past and her real identity, but kept it to themselves. "I'll be fine Izumo. Its nice to know you worry about me."

He looked at his friend, still frowning. Only his face had softened. "Kotetsu would want you to stay."

"Well he's going to have to deal with it." She spoke cheerily and smiled brightly, receiving a soft one.

'If he starts I'll get onto him.'

Both of them laughed at that. Kage looked to the starry sky; wondering what tomorrow would bring. "Let's go to sleep. We'll need the energy."

EOC

Izumo walked into the common room, still wiping sleep from his eyes.
Temari was showered and ready to leave, sitting by Shikamaru and Sakura. Ino was sitting on the floor with a wrapped up Kiba, who was playing with Akamaru. "Good morning." Izumo smiled to the younger ninja, catching their attention. "Good morning." They all said in union. Kiba waved to him. "I didn't think I'd be walking around so soon!"

Akamaru barked loudly, clearly agreeing with his master.

The elder shinobi scratched the back of his head. "That's why we brought you to K-Ace. Good thing she was close by too."

"I didn't even know she lived here."

"Well, she's only been here for a few months." The Leaf ninja perked an eyebrow. "How's Kotetsu?"
Sakura's smile widened, the paper door to the kitchen opened, revealing an older man with a bandage across his nose. He was smiling brightly. "Breakfast is ready. Ace worked on it very hard to you all better eat." Kotetsu winked.

Kiba was the first to jump up and make a mad dash to the kitchen, his ninja dog at his heels. Everyone else followed much slower, Kotetsu holding the door open for them. Izumo came in last, smiling at his best friend. "Looks like your all good then?"

"Yup." His grin widened. "In fact I feel better than I did when we left Konoha. Now let's get something to eat before Kiba inhales it all."

.:.:.:.

"Let's go!" Temari burst from the house excitedly. She was happy to be going back to Suna and to help her brother.

Shikamaru, Sakura, Ino and Kiba all waited with an antsy Temari until Kotetsu, Izumo and Ace came out. The black haired woman was smiling and laughing at something Kotetsu said.

"Come on guys let's leave!" The Suna Jounin pouted and huffed.

Izumo laughed. "Calm down Temari, we can go now."

Ace turned to them. "I'll catch up in a minute. You guys go on ahead."
The eldest blonde smiled and thanked her before dashing off with Kiba, Ino and Sakura. Shikumaru looked at her suspiciously.
"Come on Kid, you don't want to be so far behind you won't catch up." Izumo smirked.

"Are you sure she'll be able to meet us?"

The older man chuckled. "Ace and Kotetsu race every chance they get. And trust me, she will catch up." After giving the woman another suspicious glance, the Nara child and Izumo jumped ahead to meet the others.

"So you ready to get your butt handed to you?" Kotetsu smirked.

Ace returned the expression. "In your dreams! I might have reconstructed your muscles but no matter how many enhancements you get, you'll never beat me!"

"Ready." They looked foward.

"Set." Both took the same stance.

"Go!"

.:.:.:.

"God Tem's already all the way in the desert!" Ino whined, jumping from branch to branch.

"She's anxious to find her little brother." Sakura pointed out.

Izumo smiled to the little group. "Any second no-"

A blur rush past, leaving a light scent of cinnamon and mint. Sakura and Ino gasped. "What was that?"
Kotetsu appeared beside Akamaru and Kiba. He was panting slightly, but a large grin was plastered on his face. "Ace," he huffed. "Isn't going. To beat, me! This time!"
He shoved chakra into his legs and jumped after the green-eyed female.

"She's fast." Shikamaru analyzed. "Faster than any villager I've ever seen. Izumo." The sixteen year-old called, jumping next to him. "Is Ace originally from a hidden village?"
Izumo nodded and forced a chuckle. "She gets a lot of exercise, not to mention anytime Kotetsu's up they race."

"He seems to really like her."

Izumo nodded. "When they first met, he told me it was love at first sight."
He then frowned. 'Until she told us who she really was. He still loved her, just more brotherly.'

"I see Temari!" Kiba howled. They were catching up with the girl, finally and the village was in sight.

Temari fell back a little to the group. "What was Kotetsu chasing?"

"Ace." Ino snickered. "That girl is fast!"

Shikamaru's frown tightened. 'A little to fast if you ask me.'

.:.:.:.:.

After running under the desert sun, the group neared the large walls of Suna. Temari smiled happily at the sight of her home as Kiba and Ino sighed in relief.
Ace and Kotetsu were standing by the guards outside of the village, Ace was patting the older Jounin on the back smiling happily while he huffed over, hands on his knees to keep him up.

"Looks like she beat you again Kotetsu." Izumo laughed at his friend. Said man looked up, his panting light now. "I don't know. How she." He huffed. "Can run that fast. In that heat, on sand." Ace chuckled and continued to pat his back.

"You didn't let them in?" Temari growled at the guards.

The two masked men cowered slightly, shrinking back. "We did know who this woman was-" One started.

"-and our orders-"

"She is with a Leaf Shinobi! They could both be helping by now! Do you not want the KazeKage back?" Temari snapped. "Move aside!"

Both men whimpered and looked to Ace. "Sorry."
She smiled and waved to them. "It's not big deal."

Temari lead everyone into the village at a full sprint and guided them to the KazeKage tower. Ibiki was walking in circles on the first floor, running a hole into the ground until he saw the Sand Kunoichi. "Where's Kankuro?"

That made her freeze. "What?"

"Kankuro and his team went after the Akatsuki two days ago. We got a message saying he was in critical condition so we tried sending out a messenger hawk to find you."

The blonde turned to the Leaf Shinobi and Ace, newfound energy radiating off of her. "Let's go!"

"We just got here." Kiba whined, Akamaru right with him. Temari stuck her face near his. "You were sent to help. You will help."

Kiba laughed awkwardly, sweat dripping down his neck.

"Temari." Ibiki looked at his old pupil. "Half of our forces are out looking for Gaara. I can understand you're worried, but maybe a few of them can stay in the village."

Temari looked at her old sensei, eyes glassy but strong. She nodded as his words sunk in. "Alright." She then turned to the group. "Sakura, Izumo, Shikamaru and Ace can stay in the vi-l"

Izumo looked to Kage, her face fell slightly into a frown. "Ace should go with you Temari."

"Why? She can't use jutsu." Temari snapped.

Kage's frown tightened. "She's the fastest I know." Kotetsu chimed. "If anything goes wrong take it out of the pay for Konaha and I'll take the blame."

The blonde woman had her hard gaze on Kage. A pregnant pause overcame everyone. "I chose to come here. Either I go with you or back to my home."

"Fine. Let's go, I need to get my team. Meet me at the wall." Temari ordered and fled into the village with Kotestsu, Kage and Kiba going the wall.

Izumo looked at the younger jounin and medics. "Ino, Sakura, head to the hospital and give them any assistance needed."

Both medics nodded and headed out, leaving Izumo and and Shikamaru with Ibiki. "So what can we do to help?" Izumo asked the Suna shinobi.

"You two can go wherever you're needed. I trust you'll help somehow." Was all he said before leaving through a door.