Hello everybody, and welcome back to chapter fourty-one of the Winds of Change! I do apologize for the delay in this chapter, but I've had a number of things happen recently, including my mother being rushed to hospital, and a number of dental appointments. We're getting onto the final stretch of this damn arc! While it's been a blast writing it, I'm so happy to see it go. So, it should be finished within the next eight or nine chapters, yay! Sorry if this seems rushed, as I said, life's been busy, and I do want to move onto the next chapter. Anyway, without further ado, I bring you chapter 41, of the Winds of Change.

Chapter 41:

"Is this really a good idea?"

Kurenai had crossed her arms over her chest, surveying the three men in front of her. Kakashi, with his awkward gaze; Gai, face twisted into a frown. and Itachi, with an impassive stare. "Well?" She asked.

Itachi's gaze was penetrating, and yet he had an aura of calm about him. Kurenai's fists clenched. "Yes. It's imperative we take out Orochimaru and the Akatsuki, while they're in the Fire Country. Do you disagree, Miss Yuhi?"

"Yes." Her jaw was set. "I do."

Wine red eyes clashed with dark orbs, but no words were spoken. Finally, Itachi broke the staredown. "What is the problem, then? Are you scared? Do you not trust in your students abilities as shinobi?"

"I do. But, we can't send them into a suicidal-"

"You say you believe in them." Itachi interrupted, hands shoved into his pockets. "And yet you state that they're going into a suicide mission." His eyes were soon locked onto hers, a hard, sharp edge to them. "Perhaps it isn't that you don't trust your team, but perhaps you don't trust us? Or, do you not trust your own comrades from the Leaf as well? After all, I believe it was Kakashi who selected the shinobi for this mission. Are you questioning his abilities as a leader?"

Kurenai gritted her teeth. "That's not it at all, and you know it Itachi! I would rather not have children die!"

"Children? Have times truly changed enough that you see these fifteen year olds as 'children'? Not warriors that have been trained to fight? They are young adults, yes. But they are also shinobi. I see them as more than capable of fighting and helping us in the coming battle, and yet you do not? If anything, your team is the least wounded besides mine. They're all fit and able bodied ninja, and yet you deny them?"

"We can't all be prodigies, Uchiha. They're just kids-"

"You are incorrect." He snapped. "They're ninja of the Hidden Leaf Village. Trained soldiers and killers, it's what they do. It's in some of their blood. If you truly, truly believed they weren't up for the task, you wouldn't have brought them here, and you know that." Itachi's posture was rigid, eyes dark, hair blowing softly in the wind.

Kurenai's eyes held an untapped fury, her knuckles white as she clenched her fists. She went to say something, but Itachi cut her off, again. "I do not mean to be unkind Kurenai, but they're ninja, and they, and you, should start acting like it. However." He paused for a moment, sweeping his gaze over to the Copy Ninja, whose head was buried in Icha Icha. "I believe Kakashi is in charge of your group, so I'll leave the decision up to him."

Kakashi barely glanced away from the work of literature in his hand. "I'm sorry Kurenai, but I agree with Itachi. We need to go after Orochimaru and The Akatsuki. Orochimaru is out in the open, for the first time in ten years or so. Now, we can take him down, together. And we'll need all the help we can get."

"We could wait, call for backup-"

"I'm sorry." Gai held up his hand to stop the younger Jōnin. "But back-up would take too long. We know now that he is up atop that giant tree." He extended his hand upwards, gesturing to the giant monolith of wood in the background. "We have to try and take him down. It's our duty as shinobi."

Kurenai bit her lip, eyes darting left to right. Itachi watched her with a calculating gaze, while Kakashi looked away from his book long enough to glance at her red eyes.

"All right." She sighed in defeat after a few moments. "But we have injured. We need to make up a plan of action, more so than just deciding to scale the tree."

All three male Jōnin nodded. "Yes. Let's gather the others, and wait for Shizune to return." Itachi stated. "And we'll get their input."

After a few minutes of gathering everyone up, including an incident with Team Itachi that seemed to shake everybody in that particular group up, all the genin and chunin were situated in a semi-circle, all staring expectantly at the four Jōnin in front of them.

Kakashi coughed awkwardly into his fist. "We're just waiting for Shizune to get back from reconnaissance." He explained to the group, who all stated their ways of acknowledgement, from nods of the head, to grunts, to the odd perverted wink. Itachi's glare soon silenced Kura, however, and she winked no more.

"Did you find anything?" The Uchiha asked, as Shizune appeared behind him in a flurry of leaves. She was panting heavily, sweat caking her brow. However, her mouth was curled into a triumphant grin.

"Yes! I found this." She held up, in a small plastic container, a piece of the bark from the giant tree. "And, I also found an entrance to get inside the tree."

Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi all perked up at this, the blonde grinning happily, Sasuke smirking softly, and the fabric of Kakashi's mouth tightening as a smile formed on his lips.

It was cut short, however, as Shizune continued speaking. "However, there is a major problem. The opening is very, very small. I couldn't fit through it. It's really, really dark in there. I couldn't see a damn thing."

"We could always force it open?" Neji suggested, seated next to Tenten. Shizune shook her head.

"Already tried. Whenever I try to open it, whether it be with Taijutsu or Ninjutsu, it'll widen, but in a moment, will revert back to its original size."

"It won't shut completely?" Shikamaru asked, his hand still clasped firmly in Ino's, as she lay slumped against his shoulder. Nobody commented on it. "That''s odd..."

"Yes. It's almost as if-"

"Sakura left it open on purpose." Kakashi snapped his book with a shut, stuffing it into his back pocket. "At least, that seems like the most possible explanation."

"Would she have the ability, to do that, though?" Shino asked, seated next to Kiba, who kept shooting him awkward glances.

"Perhaps." Itachi answered, turning to look at the gargantuan tree that punctuated the distance. "She had the ability to create all of that."

"But she was unconscious when I tried to reach her."

"Subconsciously, then. I'm sure she wouldn't have willingly done this."

Kakashi nodded, and reverted his eyes back to his book.

"I don't care!" Naruto exclaimed, leaping up, a wide, sunny grin carved on his tanned complexion. "This means we can go and rescue Sakura now! Let's go!"

As he went to march off boldly, Sasuke grabbed the collar of his jumpsuit, roughly yanking him down. "Dobe." He chastised, fixing the blonde with an annoyed stare. "Running off didn't solve anything. Look what happened to you before. You got your ass kicked-"

"Quiet Sasuke!" Naruto snarled.

Kakashi sighed. "How about both of you be quiet?"

Sasuke shot his sensei a dirty look, but did as he was told, but not before crossing his arms over his chest. Naruto also did as he was told, although his mumblings were full of curses and declarations of warfare.

The Copy Ninja ran a hand through his grey hair, eyebrows knitting together as he thought. If what Shizune said was true, and he was sure she was, then it was going to be almost impossible to get Sakura back. That thought both enraged and saddened him deeply.

"Were there no other entrances around the base of the tree?" The grey haired one, Gurei, Kakashi recalled, spoke up. He was followed by the girl with dark hair, that continually kept flirting with him. Kura, he remembered.

"Yeah. If there was, we can just use that one?"

"I'm afraid there wasn't. There was only the one entrance, and believe me, I looked."

"Well," Shino adjusted his glasses. "It seems there is only one possible solution to getting Sakura back. What, you ask? We'll need to send someone small enough to fit through the entrance and retrieve her."

"But the question is," Gai brought his hand to his chin, rubbing it slightly. "Who?"

Kiba was fidgeting rather wildly, desperate for this meeting to end. There were so many people, who were all so attractive... his hormones were going wild, his member thick in his pants. This was ridiculous.

"I have a suggestion!" His voice came out as a mixture of a pleading whimper to a lustful growl. All eyes were on him, most filled with confusion. "Ahem. What about Hinata?"

Said Hyūga blushed brightly, her lavender eyes turned to the ground in embarrassment. "I-I wouldn't mind..." She softly said.

Shino coughed into his fist, earning Kiba's attention. "I, uh, don't think that would be wise."

"Why?" Kiba cocked his head to the side, the large thing in his pants momentarily forgotten. His eyes widened as Shino actually looked embarrassed, and had turned his head away to the sky.

"She... won't fit."

The Inuzuka blinked. "Won't fit?" He asked, rubbing his forehead in confusion. "Why, she's rather small."

"Not... not all of her."

"Huh?" What's not small about her-"

"Her breasts?" Utsuro stated from the back, clapping her hands with glee. "Did I win!? Did I!?" She cheered.

Hinata's pale skin was almost completely covered in a red blush that seemed to creep down her whole body. Kiba and Shino were both also sporting slight tinges on their cheeks, although the Inuzuka's eyes were glued to the rather sizable bosom his teammate possessed.

"Ow!" He hissed in pain, clutching his forearm, as Akamaru gave him a small nip. Grumbling, Kiba tore his eyes from Hinata's body.

"...Right." Kakashi cleared his throat awkwardly. "Perhaps we could get back on topic-"

"Hm, I'm not sure," Gurei said, leaning forward. "They might fit, despite their abnormal largeness."

"Oh really?" Kura grinned. "I'd agree. And what a fine pair they are."

"Would you stop talking about my cousin like that!?" Neji snapped at the dark haired girl. She threw her head back and let out a rich laugh, eyes alight with mischief.

"Now now, pretty boy, there's plenty of me to go around."

The Hyūga Branch Member's neck flushed, and he soon turned his back to Kura, which caused her to laugh even harder.

"Enough." Itachi's voice was stern, eyes cold, and posture focused. "I will not have any more interruptions from you Kura, are we clear?"

"Yes sensei." Still, Kura kept grinning.

"Yes, let's just focus." Kakashi emphasised. "Now, who-"

"I'll go."

The voice was soft and feminine, and soon all eyes were drawn onto Tali, her light blue eyes filled with determination.

"No." Raion, Kataki, and Kura said at the same time, shaking their heads. "Absolutely not."

"Why!?" Tali yelled. "Stop babysitting me!"

"You've just come back from a traumatising experience," Kura had reached her arm over and was holding onto Tali's shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "You don't need to do anything you don't want to."

"But I want to." She snapped. "She's my friend too, and I'm the only one who can fit! Sensei, please!?" She turned her pleading eyes and sad frown onto Itachi, whose gaze remained a picture perfect blank canvas.

"She's the only one who can fit." Itachi stated.

"Sensei, c'mon!" Raion exclaimed. "You can't be serious, she's just-"

"Is there a problem with that?"

Itachi's voice was colder than before, and his eyes sharper. If looks could kill, the one he was shooting his group right now certainly would've ended their lives. "You seem to enjoy disregarding my orders these days. We'll be having a serious talk about it when all of this is over. Now, you will not speak unless spoken to till the end of this meeting, or there will be dire consequences. Are we clear?"

The killing intent, despite how little was actually being portrayed, was more than enough to scare stiff most of the genin and chunnin staring at the seething Uchiha.

Team Itachi all nodded silently, and turned their attention away from each other and in random directions. Satisfied, Itachi crossed his arms over his chest, and nodded for Kakashi to continue.

"In terms of size, I suppose Tali is the most likeliest to fit." Kakashi agreed.

Gai and Kurenai both nodded as well, and Shizune said. "You're right, she's the only chance we have."

"Excellent. Tali." Itachi commanded, and the small blonde girl was in front of him in a heartbeat. His gaze had somewhat softened, but that wasn't really saying much, considering it was still sharper than a newly smithed sword. "Take this." He handed her a small microphone and earplug. She tucked the earplug into her ear, and placed the microphone on her shirt collar. "Make sure you keep in radio contact at all times. Gurei, you'll be monitoring her."

The grey haired nin looked up and nodded, smiling softly at Tali, before he stood up and caught the microphone and headphone Itachi tossed to him.

"If you can't make it, or there is a major problem, come back. Sakura's safety relies on this, so try not to fail."

His words were not meant to be harsh, just matter of fact and statement esque. But they still stung. Yellow hair blowing in the night breeze, and the feeling of cold grass underfoot, she dashed off towards the tree.

She really should've worn shoes.

Tali tried not to think about all the dirt and insects that were probably being crushed underfoot as she ran through the grass. Eugh.

She paused for a moment, taking in a deep gulp of air. Why did she offer to do this again? She grumbled loudly, taking a moment to examine her feet. Dirt caked the bottom of her soles, dark and crumbly. She wiggled her toes. Damn it, she really needed a pedicure. A girl of her calibre should not be out running without some proper shoes!

Her golden hair was blown about with a vicious gust of wind, appearing almost out of thin air. Soon, her somewhat straight hair, given the circumstances of her escape, was now utterly frazzled.

"Are you kidding me!?" She yelled, sitting down on the cool grass with a thud as she pulled out a small pocket mirror from her shorts, along with a small hairbrush. Blue eyes narrowed in concentration as she put her hair back together, combing and grooming it till it was satisfactory.

It'd taken fifteen minutes.

With a relieved sigh, she stood back up from her seated position and placed the hand mirror and hairbrush back into her pocket.

She began to walk forward slowly, head pointed upwards to gaze at the starry sky. It was a very nice night, very calm and soothing. Well, apart from the fact she'd been kidnapped until rather recently. Why did she agree to do this, anyway? Well, she knew, really. She wanted to be in the spotlight.

She stopped briefly. "I'm going to shine brighter than those stars, one day."

Tali paused for a moment, creasing her brow. She was forgetting something, she knew it.

Oh, right, Sakura.

She moved a little bit quicker, thoughts of the pink haired girl drifting in and out of her head. She was pleasant enough, rather kind, and not anywhere as annoying as the boys were. Although, she had missed them. All of them, despite their rather loud tendencies. But, the other two...

She didn't dislike them, per say, she realized. They were just a bit different. Unknown. Distant. Although, they seemed like decent enough people. Fenris, she believed his name was, seemed nice. He was polite, well mannered, and spoke firmly, but kindly. He would've made a fine nobleman. And yet, he constantly clung to Kataki's side, like a skittish kitten. It was amusing, if not a bit sad and pathetic. At least they had left them alone to catch up. But, the Utsuro girl... there was something off about her. She was putting on a facade, she was... what was the word Gurei used? Disconcerting? Yes, she was disconcerting. Something about that smile, all sweet and innocent. Being sweet and innocent was hard to pull off, she would know, considering the amount of balls she'd been to. Formal balls. And the politics you needed to play within them. Shrugging off the dirty thoughts, she continued into the night.

Tali's mouth opened and closed again soundlessly.

This tree was huge!

The gargantuan plant reached higher than the eye could see, its bark dark and stubborn. Roots, long and thick, clung to the earth and slithered through it, causing deep cracks and indentations within the ground itself.

The opening, as Shizune had stated, was indeed small. The darkness within the opening seemed to move and twist, shifting with the wind, and yet somehow remained an impenetrable wall of pure black. She bit her lip.

That looked really, really dark.

She tenderly reached into her kunai pouch, withdrawing one of the projectiles. She hastily threw it into the opening. There was a moment's silence, before the blade thunked loudly.

Tali sighed in relief, letting a small chuckle escape from her lips. No creepy monsters out to devour her flesh, no creepy perverts ready to kidnap her again. Nope, just wood.

That didn't stop her, however, from withdrawing another kunai and holding it an arms length away from her as she walked forward.

She reached the opening slowly, blue eyes searching for anything within the depths of what very well could be hell. Nothing.

There was a small buzzing sound.

Tali's eyes widened frantically, and she held her kunai up to stab the approaching monstrosity-

A fly appeared out of the darkness.

"Stupid thing!" She growled, thrusting her kunai forward. It skewered the creature, green mush oozing out of it's now broken body. Tali dropped the kunai in her hand, letting out a revolted squeal. Human blood she could deal with, but ugly disgusting revolting bug blood? Ew.

She stepped around the kunai, covering her mouth so as not to gag. Taking a deep breath, she began heading into the opening. It was an awkward fit, small sharp points poking lightly into her back and ribs. Sucking in her stomach, she continued to try and wriggle deeper within the tree, the smell of fresh pine filling her nostrils.

"And why couldn't that Hinata girl come and do this?" She mumbled to herself, wincing as a sharp point harshly stabbed her back.

Oh, right, she had big breasts. Really, really big breasts. Sakura's were far, far smaller. Although her legs were no doubt nicer.

Not that she'd been looking, of course.

Her musings were interrupted as the finally squeezed through the hole, only to find nothing but air on the other side. Crying out in terror, her shrill scream echoed in the hollowed out tree as she slid downwards into the belly of the beast.

Eyes like pearls watched as the five Jōnin in front of him discussed various tactics and plans for the mission. There voices were stern, eyes harsh. And yet, even with the harshness, their remained a small bit of warmth and pride.

They were in way over their heads.

Neji's eyes slowly wandered over to Tenten, her arm still bandaged, a look of concentration present on her features. Brown eyes were narrowed, and yet held a rigid touch. She bit her bottom lip.

Medical Ninjutsu could only do so much.

With a small sigh, he turned his eyes back towards the Jōnin, as Kurenai spoke.

"As for the wounded." She surveyed the group with cool eyes. "They'll have to stay down here."

"Wait, what!?" Tenten exclaimed, standing up sharply. "Hold on a minute, I'm still able to fight perfectly well, y'know!"

"Tenten, sit down." Neji commanded, not taking his eyes off Kurenai.

"Fuck off Neji, I won't-"

"Tenten." Gai chided, jawline set. "Your arm is not usable, and you are almost out of chakra. You would most likely die if you came with us. You know that. While the power of youth flows through your veins, it is time to let it rest and recharge for a while."

Tenten opened her mouth, but no words came out. She shut it with a thud. "Fine." She grumbled.

Gai smiled gently at her, before turning to Neji, and nodding wordlessly. He nodded back.

He wouldn't be staying at all.

No, he would scale that tree, and, if luck would have it, find Hyouden. And then he'd kill her.

He looked at Hinata, who had her rapt attention on Kurenai as she continued to talk. The word's floated over Neji's head. He should've been listening, but his mind continually pounded in the same thought, over and over again.

His mother was alive.

He forced the thought down, swallowing the bile that threatened to come up in his throat. But, he couldn't deny it.

Hyouden was his mother.

And, that meant...

He tried not to think about it any longer, turning his attention back towards the raven haired Jōnin.

However, a voice cut through the Jōnin's, loud and boisterous. "Why are we even going up that tree, anyway!?" Kiba asked. "That Tali chick has just gone to get Sakura, and then we can leave! Why almost get ourselves killed!?"

The group murmured in agreement. Neji, however, did not.

"That's not possible." Itachi's voice was like smooth marble, somehow containing enough emotion to keep you rapt, and yet enough to keep you disinterested. It was an odd combination. "Orochimaru is an S Class Missing Ninja-"

"So are you!" Sasuke spat.

"Sasuke." Kakashi glared at him. The Uchiha glared right back.

"-And as such, it is our duty to capture him."

"Is it our duty though?" Kataki voiced.

"Yes." Itachi's tone was final. "Did I not tell you to speak up?"

Kataki's gaze hit the floor.

"Not only that, but a number of other missing ninja, including members of the Akatsuki, are somewhere up that tree. They're terrorists and cutthroats, men that prey on the innocent and steal from the poor. Are you truly telling me that you would allow the man that murdered the Third Hokage to escape? I truly do not believe so. Of that, I'm sure. If anybody does not wish to join us, say so now, and they can stay behind and wait with the wounded."

Nobody uttered a single word.

"If that is the case," Kakashi continued, stepping forward. "We need to have a little talk about something."

The Copy Ninja took a moment, before he reached into his pocket, and pulled out some headphones, with a microphone attached. "I gave each and every one of you guys these." He stated. "Why didn't you use them? Sasuke?"

The Uchiha scowled, pulling out a broken, and charred headset from his pocket. "I burnt it." He said, tossing it to Kakashi's feet.

"Kiba?"

"I... forget." The Inuzuka gave a sheepish grin. Kakashi did not return it back.

"Shikamaru?"

"...I forgot I had it."

Kakashi sighed. "Right. Luckily, for the ones that broke theirs," he fixed Sasuke with a glare. "I've got new ones, as well as some for the rest of you."

Shizune, Kurenai and Gai stepped forward, handing out the headsets quickly. The group fiddled with them awkwardly for a few moments, before getting them to work. "They're wireless." Kakashi explained. "The range should, hopefully, extend from the bottom to the top of the tree. Do we all know how to use them?"

The group nodded in acknowledgement.

"Great." Kakashi turned to Shizune and Kurenai. "You two are going to stay down here and look after the injured?"

"Yes." Shizune smiled.

"Is that wise?" Itachi interrupted, turning to the medical ninja. "We could use a skilled medic."

"Are we forgetting about someone?" Gurei raised his hand.

"Another skilled medic, then."

"Yes, he's right." Gai nodded. "It would be more youthful for Kurenai to stay and guard the injured." He gave her a smile of apology.

"That's not really fair on-"

"It's all right, Shizune." Kurenai smiled. The warmth did not reach her eyes. "It's better if you go. You know how men are."

Shizune let a troubled frown over take her face, but it was gone within a moment, replaced by a soft smile.

"Good. Everyone that's ascending the tree, let's move out." Itachi commanded.

"Can't we even say goodb-"

"No time." Itachi cut Naruto off. "We need to go now. Move."

Neji patted Tenten on the shoulder soothingly, before standing upwards. Stretching, he followed the large group towards the obelisk of the tree.

As soon as he was out of range of Tenten's vision, his impassive gaze contorted into a frenzied frown. If his mother was up there, she would not make it out alive. This would be the day that Hyouden Hyūga fell. He swore it on his father's grave.

And there we go! Some interesting reveals here that I hope you all enjoyed. Some of you may believe Itachi might be acting a bit out of character. That will be explained in due time. If you have any problems with this chapter, please alert me to them in a nice and polite way, and I will certainly fix the problem as soon as humanely possible! Thank you all for reading, and I hope to see you at chapter fourty-two!

Have a great morning/afternoon/evening/night!