Hello everybody, and welcome back to the Winds of Change Chapter Twenty-Seven! This chapter was rather easy to write, and I'm afraid to say not much goes on in it. It's mainly just people talking about the impending assault (Which should hopefully begin around the 30-32 mark.) We also do learn some interesting information about characters, so stay tuned for that! Also, I've recently decided to use suffixes like -san or -sama, as you may notice in this chapter. I've decided to use them because I like the way they sound, and it makes important people sound more powerful and regal, in my opinion. Please tell me if I've got the meanings mixed up, or some are in the wrong area ect. And that's all! So, without further ado, I present to you chapter 27, of the Winds of Change.

Chapter 27:

"Gurei, is it ready yet?"

Itachi's voice cut through the cloud of silence that hung over the group of ninja inside the abandoned ANBU base. The grey haired nin looked up from his work, a massive painting, his brow wrinkling in a slight annoyance.

"It takes time."

"Hn," was the Uchiha's response as he leaned against the wall

casually. Kakashi stifled a chuckle. These people certainly were interesting.

He ran a hand through his hair. He hated to say it, but he was rather bored. Not that he would ever outwardly show it, but this waiting was draining

on him. He had to save his student.

"Hn, this is taking too long." Neji sneered from the opposite side of the room, arms crossed in defiance. He really, really didn't like Itachi's group for some reason. While he did find it amusing, it was interfering with the mission. "Be patient Neji," he chided gently. Neji snorted in annoyance.

Besides Neji, though, everybody seemed to have taken to them well enough. While nobody was on exactly friendly terms, they cooperated, and chatted on occasion. They would need to get along for the plan to work, it was needed.

Otherwise...

"Do you want to save your comrade, or not?" Raion voiced, eyes narrowing. "If so, shut up. And let Gurei finish his work."

Itachi looked like he wanted to facepalm.

"Raion…" he said warningly. Raion grumbled something under his breath, but backed down. It reminded Kakashi somewhat of the prep for a battle. Itachi's group was positioned behind him, most of their arms crossed and guarded looks on their faces. Accept for Kura, who was still staring at him. He didn't know whether to find it erotic or disturbing. He eventually decided on both.

The three members of his group were behind Itachi, standing in stoic fashion, except for Shikamaru, who was lying flat on the ground, his eyes closed.

"Shikamaru," Neji quietly murmured, "Get up."

One of Shikamaru's eyes cracked open. "Why? We have nothing to fear, and I had to participate in a battle, then run for ages, and then avoid traps. I'm sleeping - go away."

Kakashi could just feel the smug eyes of Kataki locking with Neji's. Itachi, however, was obviously not amused. "How about we stop this pointless and childish behaviour and get to doing something productive?"

"I am doing something productive," Kura licked her lips, her eyes shining.

"Kura, I'm pretty sure Itachi-sensei meant something like training, not, uh..." Utsuro paused momentarily, leaning towards Kataki. "What is she actually doing?"

"Being a pervert."

"Being a pervert," Utsuro announced happily. Fenris merely shook his head.

Raion looked unhappy for some reason, but Itachi continued with, "Yes, something not to do with any form of sexual escapades. Kura, go and look in on Kimimaro, make sure those chakra binds are still in effect, and then go train whoever wants to."

"Why me!?" She spluttered in indignation, "Why should I!?"

"Because I ordered you to."

Nobody ever argues with the Uchiha stare. Kura shrugged. "Fair enough. Come on then children, let me teach you how to fight seductively."

"Kami..." Raion trailed off as he sat up and stretched. "This should be fun. You guys coming?"

Utsuro nodded, but Kataki declined with a shake of the head. "No. I'd like to examine the plan beforehand. Don't break anything."

"Yes sir," Raion did a mock salute, scowling. "Fenris, you coming to get your ass beat."

He chuckled lightly. "Yes, you would do the ass-kicking. How cute. Maybe you'll give me a bruise? Or a scratch?"

Raion growled. Kura kicked him in the shin. "Hurry up," she muttered, as Utsuro got up to follow her. The white haired nin paused, however, and looked at Raion with curious eyes as he rubbed his knee. She swiftly kicked him in his other shin.

"Ow! Why the hell did you do that!?"

Utsuro shrugged. "Kura did it." And she walked out.

A ghost of a smile crossed over Itachi's face. Eventually Raion hobbled out, leaving the groups in a deep silence for a few moments. That is until the sound of Gurei putting down his paintbrush got their attention.

"Done." He announced, wiping the sweat from his brow. "That was kinda hard."

"You did good in the short time we asked you to paint. Four hours to create something like that is hard. You can either take a break, or go train, or stay and help us plan. Your call."

"I'm going to help plan."

Itachi nodded. "Good, your input will be invaluable. Now, would you set it up for us?"

Gurei nodded, and placed his huge painting on the desk. The length of it literally took up all the space. "Wow, that's impressive." Kakashi praised lightly.

"Thank you Hatake-San." He bowed politely. Gurei made a handsign, and muttered something under his breath.

Kakashi and the rest of his group watched in astonishment as the painting began to move off the paper. It soon turned into a black 3D model of what Kakashi could only assume was the compound where Sakura and Tali were being held.

"Impressed?" Itachi asked. Kakashi could only nod dumbly.

"This is as accurate as I could get it from Itachi-sensei's description of the place. And, ta-daa!"

Eighteen little ink people leapt up from their places on the pad of paper, each having a distinctive characteristic. Kakashi immediately noticed the likeness of his awesome hair-do.

"I see. It'll help us divide ourselves into teams and track our progress," Shikamaru said as he came to inspect closer.

"Exactly," Gurei smiled.

As the rest of the groups came over to investigate, each with varying degrees of enthusiasm, Itachi spoke up. "Down to planning."

The compound itself was very deep and intricate. When first entering you would be greeted by one large chamber, and a number of smaller rooms. Each room would lead down to different almost maze like areas, which would all, one way or another, lead to a larger central chamber.

"I believe that Sakura and Tali would be held somewhere around here." Itachi pointed to a row of rooms in the middle, behind the large central chamber.

"How did you get all this information?" Neji asked suspiciously.

"I used Shadow Clones and drew rough maps of the corridors and rooms. It's not perfect, but it'll do. As I was saying, they'll most likely be in some of the chambers behind the main chamber. I would suggest sending a small team to go and find them."

"Any suggestions?" Kakashi asked.

"I would offer myself and Kura to go and find them."

Kakashi and Itachi both saw the others stiffen slightly, and they shared a look. "However, if you would wish to nominate somebody else to go with

Kura...?"

"Hm, I'm not sure... I think it would be best, given our current team

establishment, that we perhaps send Kurenai with you?"

"Kurenai-san would be an excellent addition. However, before we discuss this further, we have the overwhelming force of shinobi in this area," Itachi pointed to one of the upper large chambers.

"You said there were over a hundred, right sensei? That'll take a while to take them all out." Kataki sighed. More distractions, more wasted time! "I volunteer to take them out."

"No," Itachi cut him off, a hardened look in his eyes. "I'll take them out."

Kakashi's eyebrow raised. "You're going to take out one hundred men

alone?"

Itachi smirked slightly. "Yes. Most are conscripts, and those that aren't are about Chunnin level. It'll be easier if I handle them. After that, I'll rendezvous with Kurenai-san and Kura here."

He pointed at one of the smaller chambers opposite the chamber he would have killed everybody in.

"Yes, that could work. So, what is the plan for everyone else?" Kakashi asked.

Shikamaru voiced his opinion. "It would be better if we didn't have a long, drawn out battle. I would suggest leading a full on assault once the fodder force of men has been eliminated by Uchiha. We should then be able to draw out most of the Lightning Jonin and Akatsuki we've seen so far. Then Uchiha, Kurenai-sensei and Kura can grab the girls and make a speedy exit."

"That might not be possible. If my suspicions are correct they'll be guarded well; well enough that it'll take a long time to try and escape."

"You're correct," Neji butted in. "They probably have Akatsuki and the other Lightning Ninja stationed around the vicinity of the areas where they're being kept. It's going to be hard to break through anything. And if they don't rise to the bait, and all stay within the compound, breaking them is going to be harder."

"Perhaps, after gaining access to compound, we split everybody into three man teams. Why, you ask? Because the amount of ground we could all cover would increased, while also forcing the enemy to split up, weakening them."

"That'd cause possible casualties, though. More chance of you genin getting jumped by a highly experienced ninja and slaughtered." Kataki scoffed.

Shino pushed his glasses up the rim of his nose. "True, but this is a mission. Sadly, casualties are acceptable."

"They're not. Nobody will die," Itachi said forcefully, earning everybody's attention. "Fenris, you've been inside Orochimaru's compounds before. How does he operate?"

Fenris shifted uncomfortably. "I... Orochimaru-sam- Orochimaru usually places his strongest men around his prized possessions. I agree with Shino, splitting up in three man groups will weaken them."

"Will it though?" Kakashi countered, "It'll make us easier to hit, and much easier to eliminate."

"Not if we play it smart," Shikamaru agreed, nodding towards Shino. "If we create groups specifically for certain roles, we can confuse the enemy."

Itachi's brows furrowed in thought. "It could work. In fact, it's a good idea. If we create specialized groups it'll give us far more control over the situation than the enemy."

"Right, now that it's sorted, we need to divide people into groups."

"Hinata-sama and myself should be assigned to a tracking group." Neji immediately stated, his steely eyes daring anyone to argue with him.

"No," Itachi said, shaking his head, "It would be a waste of resources to place two members of the Hyuga clan within the same squad. I suggest we have three main squads. Assault, Recon and Support."

"I see where you're going," Shikamaru muttered. "If we have an Assault team that fights the hardest troops, a Damage team which makes as much noise as possible, distracting people, a Recon team to scope out the area and find Sakura and Tali, and a support team that's able to divert to any of the other teams in need of aid. It could work."

"Question is, who do we place on what team?" Gurei finally spoke after a long silence. "I would recommend I go into battle with the Assault team."

"Yes, we'd need a medic there the most. I would also like to include Gai, Kiba and yourself Neji."

Neji, while not exactly liking the idea of splitting up from Hinata, agreed. However, Shino voiced his opinion.

"If I may, Kakashi-sensei, I think it would be prudent if myself, Hinata and Kiba were in fact the scouting team. Why, you ask? We work well as a cohesive unit, know each other's strengths and weaknesses better than most, and are primarily a scouting team. It would be logical for us all to join the same unit."

Kakashi hummed in thought. "Yes, but we may need to be able to track down the others, so we need somebody who has that ability. In fact, Shino, you stay with the assault group, while Hinata and Kiba can go and recon."

"Myself, Kura and Kurenai-san will meet up with them, either with Tali and Sakura or without them, and we can continue on."

Shino looked slightly ruffled, as much as you could tell from behind that thick trench-coat, but nodded. "Yes... that makes sense. My Kikaichū could be placed on everybody, allowing me to track them."

Kakashi nodded. "Good, that makes sense. Naruto, Sasuke and Tenten can also join myself, Gai, Neji, Shino and..." He trailed off slightly, turning his gaze onto Kataki. "What about you guys?"

Kataki straightened. "I... we work better as a cohesive unit. I would suggest that I take Raion and Fenris, and Gurei with me. I intend to try and find and confront the Akatsuki."

"Insanity," Itachi muttered coldy. "There would be no point-"

"With respect, Itachi-sensei, if I delay the Akatsuki that would give you a much easier advantage when dealing with everything else. Being able to dispatch the Lightning Ninja without the Akatsuki breathing down your neck. It's risky, sure, but would take the heat off you, allow me to gain some revenge, and save ourselves some trouble later. If you think about sensei, it's a win-win idea, yeah?"

Kakashi could have sworn he heard Itachi grumble. "I suppose it could work. But, who's to say that they'll react to you at all? What do you have that they need?"

Kataki smiled. "Simple, we have Tali." Everybody blinked, but Shikamaru's face was soon replaced with understanding.

"Clever, but troublesome. Uchiha, if you create a Shadow Clone, it could henge into Tali, and follow them. Once they've got deep enough into the compound, they could turn around and run, acting as if they have secured Tali. This would result in the Akatsuki coming after them, hopefully."

Itachi scowled, but nodded. "We'd need another medic on Support, though."

"Gai has met up with a medical ninja. She's agreed with the request to help us. She could provide support."

Itachi nodded at Kakashi's statement. "Excellent. And Utsuro would stay in support?"

Kataki nodded. "Yes, her skills would be best suited to that. With us delaying, the Assault group should have a much easier time taking out the enemy."

"It'll take time, though. These Lightning Ninja are Jonin at the most, and they'll be hard to take down. Coupled with the threat of Akatsuki, and possible Oto Ninja, it's going to be tough... but do-able." Kakashi stated.

"We have the basis of a do-able plan, then. One that should, hopefully, reduce casualties on our side, and multiply them on theirs." Shino said, nodding to himself.

"So, to recap. We have the main Assault Team, with myself, Gai, Neji, Shino, Naruto, Sasuke, and Tenten. For Support we have Shizune, Utsuro, Shikamaru and Ino. For the Distraction Assault Team, we have Kataki, Fenris, Raion and Gurei. For the two scouting teams with have Hinata and Kiba, and yourself Itachi, Kura and Kurenai. Are we all in agreement?"

Everybody nodded in agreement. Kakashi smiled. They were making progress.

"I do have some other news, however. I sent word to the Leaf Village about how our mission was going. They weren't too happy, though..."

Everybody from Kakashi's group furrowed their brows.

"What do you mean, they were unhappy?" Neji voiced what everybody was thinking, crossing his arms over his chest. "The mission, while having some setbacks, has been going phenomenally well so far."

"If you count being attacked by Orochimaru's bodyguards and almost killed as 'a setback' then I would agree." Kataki smirked. Shikamaru rolled his eyes.

"Well, there may have been something I forgot to mention to you all..."

Now all eyes were glued to Kakashi. He chuckled and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "It goes like this. So, you know how this is a mission, right?" They all nodded hesitantly. "Well, you see... it sorta... well... it was never actually sanctioned as a mission."

Silence.

After a few minutes of dumbstruckery, Itachi spoke up. "What?"

Kakashi eye-smiled.

Another few moments of silence followed. Neji's eye twitched. "Let me get this straight," he began slowly, "You took the heir to the Aburame, Hyuga, Inuzuka, Nara, Yamanaka and Uchiha clans out of the village, to go hunt for your student, without permission from the village itself...?"

"Well, when you put it like that, it makes it sound like I did a bad thing-"

"You did do a bad thing!" Neji exploded. "This is illegal, we could be killed because of this!"

"Oh Neji, such a dramatic Hyuga."

Neji's eye twitched again. "And anyway, I got permission from everybody's parents. Think of this like a school-trip! Only with the possibility of death."

"You idiot." Itachi sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Of all the things..."

"Oh Itachi, don't worry about it! Everything will be fine."

"Highly improbable. Why, you ask? Because you took the heirs of the major clans of Konoha out of the villages safe walls for a bogus mission. You will be dead by the time you reach the gate."

"Ah Shino, always the pessimist. Since we're figuring out everybody's opinions, Shikamaru, your thoughts?"

"Troublesome..." was the reply. Kakashi nodded.

"You utter fool," Itachi said again, still pinching the bridge of his

nose.

The Copy-Nin just shrugged. "Anybody want to quit the mission now?"

"No." They all unanimously agreed.

"There would be no point, seeing as we have come so far," Shino adjusted his glasses once more. "Besides, do you not have a saying that goes against going back?"

"A person who abandons the mission is trash, but a person who abandons a teammate is worse than trash." Kakashi smiled fondly. "Anyway, they agreed to properly sanction the mission, although everybody will most likely try to kill us. I should also mention I didn't really tell anybody that I was bringing you back Itachi. That cool with you?"

"Idiot."

"Good. So, while most of the clans will try to murder me horrifically, we'll all get paid in the end!"

"Wait," Shikamaru asked in a bored tone. "If the mission is now properly sanctioned, what was the point of asking us if we wanted to stay? Leaving would be illegal too."

Kakashi eye-smiled. "I wanted to see your reactions, fellow cute little genin to my cute little genin."

Both of Neji's eyes violently twitched.

"Anyway, is that everything everybody wanted to say that did not result in someone verbally attacking me?"

Neji scowled.

"Excellent. I would say the meeting should be dismissed, wouldn't you Itachi?"

He looked up, and shook his head again. "Yes, I suppose."

"Very well, dismiss-"

There was a puff of smoke that enveloped the table, including the giant black painting that had come to life. When it cleared, there was a small pug, covered in black ink, sitting on the table. "Yo," it greeted. "Why am I covered in ink?"

"Greetings Pakkun," Kakashi eye-smiled, "I presume everything is

going well over at Orochiasu?"

Pakkun shook his head. "Actually, no. We have trouble Kakashi."

Everybody focused on the little dog. "Today two Akatsuki breached Orochiasu, for what Gai-san can only assume to be an attempt to kidnap Naruto Uzumaki."

"Why Naruto, exactly? We don't even know what the Akatsuki is..." Shikamaru trailed off as he was shushed by a look from Kakashi.

Kataki mouthed to him 'I'll tell you later.' The lazy genius' brows furrowed, but he nodded all the same.

"They were held off by Hyuga Hinata and Kiba Inuzuka, who accidently stumbled upon them before they reached Naruto. Hinata is adamant that one of the members was Hyouden Hyuga."

Neji stiffened visibly. "Impossible, she's dead..."

"Apparently not," Pakkun said scratching himself behind the ears, "The other, from what Hinata told me, was Kiba Inuzuka's father, Garou Inuzuka."

At this Shino stiffened. "This is bad, very bad. Why, you ask? Because Kiba wants to kill his father by any means necessary. Were my teammates injured?"

"Yes. Not life-threatening," the small dog added after Shino visibly straightened," Kiba was unconscious at the time of my departure, but he was stable. Hinata had mainly a few bruises, and nothing more. Don't worry kid, they're fine. However, that's not the only bad news."

Kakashi internally sighed. Great, an Akatsuki attempt on Naruto, what now!?

"Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and Kurenai Yuhi were attacked by a rogue Lightning Jonin. Sasuke was unconscious, and slightly injured, but nevertheless alright. Naruto suffered a few burns, but nothing Shizune could not heal. Same with Kurenai."

Kakashi let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "Another girl, Ino Yamanaka I believe, was also attacked by a member of the Hitokui clan. She was emotionally damaged, but fine."

"Ino? Shit, We've got to go and see her!"

All of Kakashi's group voiced their opinions about going to see the team in Orochiasu. Kakashi calmed them down with a surrendering gesture. "I'm sorry, but not all of you can come."

"It's my duty to protect Hinata-sama. I must see to her at once," Neji demanded. He did have a fair point...

"It would be logical for me to go and place my Kikai on the other team members anyway, so I shall go too." Shino stated. Another good point...

"Uh, I should go because, well..."

Kakashi could swear he saw a blush creeping up Shikamaru's neck.

"Sorry Shikamaru, you need to stay here and help strategize. "Pakkun, tell Gai I'm coming with Shino and Neji to do check on things."

"I need to run back there again?" He grumbled, Fine, understood."

And the little pug that could took off running.

"Well then, I shall be back shortly. Itachi, Kataki, Fenris, Gurei, Shikamaru, see you soon!"

And, with that, he teleported away with Neji and Shino.

"Itachi-sensei, I can see why you left the Leaf now," Kataki nodded in understanding.

"So do I..."

Gurei was looking horrified at the destruction of his 3D painting structure thing, but with a resigned sigh he said, "I need to go check on our special guest. And mourn the loss of my painting." And he left quietly.

Shikamaru muttered "Troublesome," before standing up and leaving too.

Fenris smiled. "You people are... far more entertaining than Oto Ninja."

"You'll regret saying that," Itachi said swiftly standing. "Let's go practice."

Kataki groaned. "Oh no..."

"What's wrong with practice?" Fenris asked his self-proclaimed master.

"It's not the same as training. Training is, well, normal training. When sensei makes us practice, he really makes us work. Be prepared to ache my friend, be prepared."

"Kura said something like that a few hours ago. She then tried to trap us in that room, do you remem-"

"Yes." Kataki stated immediately. Itachi smirked.

"Come along now, time to practice."

Pain. It overwhelmed him, consumed him, it was him. With a groan, his eyes slowly opened. Kimimaro did not recognize where he was. It was to be as expected - he had lost the battle. He was lying backwards on some form of hard surface, and yet he could not move. As his eyes traveled down his tattered form, he noticed the binds that kept him caged. Ah, chakra seals. He wouldn't be getting out of here anytime soon. He didn't deserve too, though. Was he truly this worthless? The final task he would perform for Orochimaru-sama. And he had failed miserably. He did not deserve to live, to breathe. His very existence stained Orochimaru-sama's name.

The creak of door did nothing for him. He would not pay attention, he was not even worth that.

"Hello," a rather chipper voice greeted him. He, of course, did not reply. Not intentionally anyway, as a thick cough overwhelmed him.

Gurei frowned. "Hm, yes, that sickness in your chest, I was meaning to check that out."

"Don't bother."

A grey eyebrow rose up. "No? Are you hoping to die, then?"

"It's incurable. I would suggest you end it now, as I have no point in living any longer."

At this, Gurei let out a long laugh. "Oh, how funny." Kimimaro grit his teeth. Nobody laughed at his expense.

"Hn, leave me be."

Gurei paused for a moment, picking up a clipboard. "So," he said, looking over it, "jokes aside, how're you feeling?"

"Go away!"

"Uh-huh," he produced a pen from his pocket and wrote something down.

Kimimaro felt like exploding.

"I'm going to scan your chest." Gurei stated, his hands glowing green. Kimimaro struggled against his binds. A sharp jolt stopped him. He growled. He couldn't move his arms or legs!

The warm green chakra felt alien to his body, as it probed and prodded. Gurei's face twisted from impassiveness to concern. "How long have you had this?"

"None of your concern, scum."

"Hm, from the amount it's spread, I'd say quite a few years. Why didn't anyone treat your Pneumonia?"

Kimimaro's breath hitched. Pneumonia? Impossible.

"I will not fall for you tricks."

"Tricks? You have a serious case of Pneumonia that has not been treated for the past few years."

"I have an incurable disease!" He hissed.

"Who told you that!? You are perfectly curable within due time."

He was lying. He had to be. Why would Orochimaru-sama lie to him? It wouldn't make any sense, he needed him. He was his top agent.

"Liar!"

A bone shot out from Kimimaro's shoulder, heading straight towards Gurei's throat. The medical ninja dodged to the side, his hand glowing green with a chakra scalpel. Using quick reflexes, he severed the link between Kimimaro's body and shoulder. The Sound nin cried out in pain. Gurei stood impassive.

"You are foolish. Whatever you have been told by Orochimaru or my -whatever you have been told is a lie. You were obviously never worth anything to them. I will come back with some food and water later on. Any more attacks like that and I will slit your throat."

And, with that, he slipped out.

Kimimaro was in a daze. The pain in his shoulder was burning and tearing, and yet his mind was clouded by doubt. Could what this medic nin said be true? Was Orochimaru-sama simply lying to him? But why!?

With a frustrated growl Kimimaro went into deep meditation, hoping to find some answers deep inside his own subconscious. In reality, he knew he would find none.

And there we go! So, could Kimimaro's illness not be as serious as it first seemed? Or, is Gurei lying? :D.

Overall, I enjoyed writing this chapter. The humour with Kakashi, and generally anything with Kakashi actually, is always fun. He's a great character to write with, with just the right amount of stoicness and humour to create some awesome scenarios. And yes, Kakashi pretty much kidnapped everyone to go on this mission. I should point out, just remembering, that Gai and Kurenai do know about this.

Kimimaro is a hard character to write for, I must admit. It's challenging for me, but I'ms sure I'll get the hang of his character soon.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter of WoC, please leave a review, it helps me know what you like and dislike to make this story better! Have a great morning/afternoon/evening/night!