MISSION TWO: THE TRUTH ABOUT SHIRA-CHAN

Tsunade stared at Kakashi. "You're sure about this?"

"I wouldn't bother you with this if I wasn't 100% sure. It's got to be her." Tsunade sighed, resting her head in her hands. "What are we going to tell them? That their daughter's now a career criminal, oh, and by the way, she's traveling with somebody who might kill her?!"

Shira stalked down the hallway, fuming. "YOU BAKA, DEIDARA-SAMA!" He screamed in pain as she (non-too-gently) applied the burn cream. "How stupid are you!? You could've gotten yourself killed! You're lucky Sasori-sama and I found you when we did!" She kept mumbling things like 'idiot', 'fool', and 'asshole'. This last one shocked him. "Aw...How cute! Shira-chan's learning from Hidan!" She smacked him on his burnt back, and he howled in pain. "Shut up, or I'll hit harder next time, baka." She stood up. "See ya, Princess." Shira rose, slapping him hard on the back and walked out to his screams. Sasori looked down at her. "That was a little harsh."

"He shouldn't have made fun of me."

"When did we ever make fun of you, Shi-Shi?"

"I told you not to call me that! Remember when I first came here?"

"Yeah."

"I seem to recall you saying Hidan no danna was a pedophile."

"...I don't remember that."

"Deidara called me 'Hidan's fuck buddy'." Sasori laughed. "That I remember."

"Next time, I'll put you in the kimono." Sasori recoiled. "You evil child." Shira laughed, punching his arm. "Remember, kimono." Sasori chuckled as she rounded the corner. "She's got Hidan whipped." Unfortunately, Hidan was standing right behind him. "PLEASE DON'T KILL MEEEEEEE! MY BEAUTIFUL FACE!"

Shira chuckled as she heard Sasori's pleas for mercy. Sighing, she figured she'd better keep Hidan from killing Sasori. "Hidan no danna, that's enough!" Hidan had slammed Sasori into a wall. "This has to stop. Save your energies for the real battles." He grabbed her hand, and Sasori noticed the blush creeping up her cheeks. "We need to practice, weed." Shira nodded.

Later, as they were resting on the grass, watching the clouds, Shira spoke. "Hidan no danna?"

"What the fuck is it now, weed?"

"Have you ever...h-had a, you know, a-"

"-A girlfriend? Yeah. She was boring, though. Never stood up for herself. Weakling. She died."

"Is that code for you killed-" He stood up. "Forget it."

"Hidan no danna-" He paused. "Have you ever liked someone?"

"Yeah." A dreamy smile came over her face. "This guy in my village. He has always been so brave, but he doesn't know I exist." She didn't notice Hidan's fists clenching. "What's the little bastard's name?"

"Nobody. Ooo, that one looks like a puppy!" Hidan looked over at the 14-year-old. Even though she was a teenager, she still had cute child-like qualities. She was kinda attractive...Mind outta the gutter, Hidan! She's ten years younger than you! Hidan sighed. Shira had fallen asleep on his shoulder. "Hidan no danna...." She mumbled a few other words, smiling.

Shira took a deep breath, watching Hidan practice from her room. She was going to miss all this, but her family needed her, needed to know she was okay. She missed her brother the most. Shira rose, and headed for the main hall.

Pein and Konan stared down at her. "You want to WHAT!?" Shira shrugged. "My family needs me, Konan-sama." Pein spoke. "You...are the only one to be able to get past Hidan's mask. He really cares for you. Leave now, and he'll never trust anyone ever again."

Shira looked at him. This was the first time in two years that he had spoken to her. "Wha-?"

"But if you choose to leave, that's your own doing. Just make sure to tell him first."

As Shira prepared to leave, Konan spoke. "You know, he really loves you." Shira smiled. "I know. Like a brother."

"You're an idiot. That's NOT what I meant."

"So you meant-OH." She sighed, "Well, it's too late now. Besides, he's kind of old for me..." Konan 'tsked' in frustration. "You two have to be the stupidest couple I've ever met. One of these days, he will track you down."

"...I hope not."

"You're hopeless."

Shira stared back wistfully at the place she had called home for the past 2 1/2 years. No turning back now, though. She had already handed in her ring and cloak. Sighing, she made her way forward to her village. She had disguised herself well by wearing her hair loose, and wearing her shinobi clothing. She had Konan make some before she set out, because her old ones wouldn't fit her.

Shira stopped outside the village gates. When she stepped through them, she'd stop being Shira, Death Angel of the Akatsuki, and begin her life again. Setting her jaw, she stepped through the gates and made her way silently to the Hokage's Tower.

"If it really is her, we'll have to assemble a search-and-retrieve team....No, that's stupid!" Tsunade was so absorbed in her thoughts, she didn't notice the shadowy figure creep in through the window. "You know, you really shouldn't be alone in a tower at night. Nobody could hear your screams." Tsunade heard the spine-chilling voice of a serial killer behind her, and jumped 6 feet out of her chair. The girl chuckled. "Man, you're more high-strung than-" She stopped talking.

"Your family thinks you're dead."

"I know. I'm here to prove that's not true."

"You know where to find them?"

"Their usual spots."

Shikamaru stared at Asuma's monument, then flopped on his back, remembering his little sister's laugh..."Bet you can't catch me, Shikamaru!"

"Hey, hey. That one looks like a kitty, Shikamaru!"

"Shikamaru! Look at me! Watch this!"

"BROTHER, HELP ME! BROTHER!" She had vanished almost 3 years ago, on her 12th birthday. They thought she was dead. "Hello. Need company?" He looked up. "Who are you?" A smirk lifted at the corners of the strange girl's face. "An old family friend. You called me Shi-Shi." Shikamaru sat up, staring at the girl. "S-Shikari? No, you're not her. She's younger!"

"Funny thing. As years pass, people tend to age, big brother. And here I thought you were a genius." She gestured at the headstone. "Which one is this one?"

"A-Asuma-sensei. He was killed almost a year ago." Shikari lay an arm comfortingly on his. "I'm sorry, Shikamaru. How did it happen?" His next word was laced with venom. "Hidan." Shikari's eyes widened. "W-What?!"

"He's-"

"Akatsuki, I know. I had a minor run-in with them a few years ago."

Shikari wept that night as she stared up at the sky. Hidan no danna, I made a terrible mistake. I don't belong here. I feel so awkward. I don't know what to do. I'm not Shira anymore. Sighing, she got up, and padded into the kitchen. Her Chuunin Exams were tommorrow, and seeing as what had happened during her brother's Exams, the security was even tighter this year. People were made even more nervous by the fact that Uchiha Sasuke was working for Orochimaru.

Shikari stood up and headed for the door, where her 'team' stood. Seeing as she had only come back two weeks ago, she had been issued a spot on the hated Sakura's team. Not a day went by that she didn't plan about killing Sakura slowly and painfully for hurting Uncle Sasori. The other two members of her team annoyed her. There was a girl with red bunny hair, and Sarutobi Kohonamaru, the loud, obnoxious brat who seemed to have a crush on her. Sakura smiled down at her new student. "Come on, Shikari-chan." Shikari glared at her, then followed them to the practice grounds. She watched the others for awhile, then Kohonamaru walked over. "Hey, can't you even fight?"

Shikari smirked, taking a swig of her water. "Kid, I could kill you right now, and nobody would figure out you were dead." She took out twin katanas that Hidan no danna had given her. She stood up, and ran at Kohonamaru, pinning him to the ground while putting her swords across his throat. "One cut...." She stood up. "I learned from the best. Remember that next time you think about mocking me. Because when you mock me, you mock my Master." Sakura stared at the girl whose eyes were blazing with hate that only seconds before had been directed at her.

Shikari had completed the written exams easily, as did her team. She had cheated off of the Hyuuga Hanabi girl, who hadn't even realized it. Shikari wished she was on that girl's team, she was certainly a force to be reckoned with, unlike her weakling 'team'. Next was the Forest of Death. Shikari made her way through it silently, while her teammates crashed through it. Dammit, could they be any louder!? She snatched the scroll from Moegi's hands. "I'll be right back."

They heard far off screaming and pleas of mercy, then an odd squelching sound. Shikari came back, covered in blood, and holding a Heaven scroll. "Got it. Don't ask me how, you don't want to know."

Shikari went through the preliminary match without a hitch. Then came the final match, and everything went wrong. Just as she raised her sword for the final blow, a messenger ran into the stadium, screaming. "STOP THE MATCH! STOP THE MATCH!" Shikari looked up. "Wha-?" The messenger ran over to Tsunade, and whispered in her ear. Her eyes widened and she stood up. "Everyone, please remain calm. The Akatsuki have infiltrated Kohonagakure. We will need all the help we can get defending ourselves." People began screaming and panicking, while the Jonin lept out of sight. Choji and Ino grabbed Shikari, speeding out of there. "Why are you guys running?"

"They're going to kill everyone to get to Naruto!" Shikari stared over at her shoulder, hearing the screams ringing in her ears. A large figure blotted out the sun, and they looked up. Deidara rode his bird, lobbing bombs at the villagers below. Sasori was cornering Kakashi and Might Guy, fighting the both of them. Pein and Konan took on Tsunade, while Itachi and Kisame fought Kurenai, Shino, Kiba, and Hinata. Zetsu fought Team Guy, while Tobi fought Team Kakashi. She didn't see Hidan no danna anywhere.

Hidan sped towards Shikamaru, roaring with pent-up rage. Shikari watched with wide eyes from a nearby window as Hidan began torturing her brother. "I'm going to make you beg for death, Nara!" He raised the sword again, aiming for his legs. Shikamaru bit back a scream as the blood began gushing from them. "Next are your knees, and then your waist." Shikamaru didn't scream as blood seeped into the ground. "Then your hands, elbows, shoulders, and finally, your heart!" He prepared for the fatal blow, but it never came. Shikari had intercepted the sword's path, and it went all the way through her chest. She began coughing up blood. "P-Please-don't hurt each other." She grinned up at Hidan shakily. "Hi, Hidan no danna." His eyes widened, and the sword clattered to the ground as she began healing.

"Why are you saving this bastard?" Shikari didn't respond immediately. "...."

"Answer me!"

"Because...Because he's my brother. Hidan no danna, please don't hurt him!"

"Your-" She nodded. He began laughing. "Oh, this is too ironic! Instead of killing you, I'll make you suffer by taking your sister!" He grabbed Shikari by the wrist, pulling her towards him.

"SHIKARI, GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Shikari looked at Shikamaru. "B-Brother." Hidan glared at Shikamaru. "I'll kill everyone here if you try to stop me. Come along, Shira-san." Shikamaru grabbed her ankle. "Shi-Shi. Please." She took a shaky breath. "I'm so sorry, Shikamaru. I'm sorry, but I have to go." She walked away, following Hidan.