Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto. I DO own Youshi Garukin (Yes, he's back! It's the prequel silly.) Ai Mizuri is owned by xEMOtIoNaLLyCOnSTipaTEDx-

Chapter Two - Akatsuki Attack

Word of the destruction of the Sound Village, and the truth about Sasuke, spread around the village of Konoha like wildfire.

Shame and guilt at believing the lies surged through many of the Rookie Nine, driving their determination to finally put an end to the Akatsuki once and for all.

Naruto felt his heart clench a little tighter every time he heard someone mutter "This is for Sasuke!" He had no idea how Sakura was able to deal with it. After getting his position from Kakashi, Naruto closed his eyes and took several deep breaths as images of better times, times with Sasuke, filled his mind. Even the Nine-tails seemed to be in mourning for his lost friend. The demon within him staying oddly silent at a time when, in normal circumstances, it would have been urging him to release control, to let it loose.

Naruto opened his eyes and glanced through the crowds of assembling ninja. Rock Lee and Kiba stood either side of a stoic Neji, whose head was slightly lowered as if in respect. Lee's fury was showing all too clearly through his overly tensed body but his face was calm as he glanced off to his right.

Following Lee's glance, Naruto found Sakura. She gave off the perfect image of calm and readiness. Her body was relaxed but any idiot could see that she was instantly ready to move. The only thing that gave away Sakura's true state of mind, was her eyes.

One single glance into those emerald depths and Naruto felt his very soul flinch. The pain in those eyes was overwhelming. No tears were being shed but Naruto knew that they would not be allowed to come until later, after the battle. Naruto looked away from Sakura. He had to.

That solitary connection had held more pain than he had felt in his entire life. That single moment when their eyes met showed him a Sakura he had never wished to encounter.

Sakura was broken.

Suddenly, the time for thinking was over. The attack had begun!

***

Kisame patted Itachi's back proudly as he let out an evil laugh. "You missed it, man! We blew that place sky high!"

Itachi glared at him, gripped Kisame's arm extra tightly and threw it away from him.

"Think you pissed him off with that little stunt, freak!" chuckled Ai.

Kisame just glared at her. "Just cause he had to babysit you while we took care of Orochimaru and his runts!"

"I don't need babysat!" snapped Ai. "I'm strong enough to save your ass, freak!"

Konan and Pein both chuckled. "That's true, Kisame!" laughed Konan. "If it wasn't for Ai showing up back in Water Country, you'd be dead by now."

"And…" added Pein. "Itachi wasn't babysitting her! They were keeping our path clear!"

"Exactly, freak!" stated Ai.

Kisame growled and glared at Ai. "Stop calling me that! I ain't the one with blue hair! You're the only freak around here!"

Ai raised her fist to punch Kisame but paused when Itachi growled threateningly. "Attacking Sound was a mistake!" he hissed. "Konoha was watching that place. They'll know we're coming now!"

"Stick to the mission, Uchiha!" snapped Pein. Konan chuckled and leaned on to Pein's side, hugging him slightly. "Yeah, Uchiha. You should be thanking us for getting rid of that shit-hole. At least you can relax now, no avenger coming after you!"

Itachi sighed heavily and moved further ahead of them, closer toward the lesser Akatsuki. His anger was coming off in waves. Konan opened her mouth to call out to him but Pein placed a finger over her lips, silencing her. "Let him be, my love."

Konan smiled softly at Pein and nodded.

"Don't say Itachi didn't warn you, Pein!" chuckled Kisame.

Pein frowned and looked over at Kisame. He was about to ask what the hell Kisame was talking about when he spotted the first wave of Konoha ninja approaching.

"Shut it, freak!" snapped Ai as she took up a defensive position.

"You're the freak!" snapped Kisame.

"Pein!" whispered Konan sharply. Pein nodded to her before glaring at Itachi. "Keep your pet on a leash, Uchiha!"

Itachi lowered his head, a sign that he understood his leader was annoyed with the current behaviour. Kisame was slightly unnerved by Itachi's behaviour. He was even more unnerved by the glare he received the second his friend raised his head again. The warning held by those spinning red eyes was as serious as it was deadly.

Itachi took his place next to Ai and prepared for the oncoming battle. "We shouldn't have taken out Sound." he muttered. It was more to himself but Ai heard and responded accordingly. "Little late for that, Uchiha!"

"Feeling guilty, Uchiha!" mocked Konan. "Not missing your baby brother, are you?!"

Konan fell silent the instant Itachi's raging Sharingan eyes locked with hers. She stiffened nervously. Ai moved slightly between Konan and Itachi. "Save it for Konoha!" she hissed to them both. Pein growled threateningly at them all, warning them to be quiet.

Konan bowed her head toward him. Itachi nodded curtly but Ai openly glared at him. "They already know we're here. Thanks to freak!" she hissed. "What difference does it make no… MOVE!"

Ai lunged forward, grabbing Konan and spinning her away. Pein leapt backwards just as the earth erupted underneath them.

"What the fuck?!" snapped Kisame, spinning round furiously as he tried to lock on to where the attack was coming from. He was beyond enraged about being caught off guard. They had known the Konoha ninja were coming and yet, only the blue hair freak, Ai, had spotted their actual attack. Kisame was ready to explode, he was so angry.

"Itachi! Kisame! Spread out!" ordered Pein. "Konan! Stay close! Ai! No-one gets past you!"

Everyone nodded and rushed to their newly commanded positions. The lesser members of their group scattered out in a wide attack formation and braced for impact.

Konoha ninja came from all directions. Konan was knocked to the ground and was about to be killed but Ai swept the Jounin's legs out from under them, forcing them to draw back or be killed. Pein sent Ai a look of thanks as Konan was pulled to safety.

"Try me on for size!" Ai yelled at the masked Jounin. His only visible eye crinkled in mirth as he accepted her challenge.

"Careful Ai!" shouted Konan as she squared off against an ANBU, Pein by her side. "That one's sneaky!"

A chuckle escaped from under the mask of the Konoha Jounin. "Thanks for the compliment."

"Don't you talk to her!" shouted Ai. "You've got me to deal with!"

The Jounin fell silent, his one eye glaring at the loss of his enjoyment. He dodged to the left and right, forced to keep moving by the power of Ai's Water Jutsu's.

"Where the hell is she getting water from?!" came the cry of an on looking ninja.

"Look! There, under her cloak!" called another.

The Konoha ninja each spared a glance at the battling Ai. Around her waist, secured to her belt, were several bottles of water. Each was linked to the other, creating a bond between them and strengthening the power she could use from them.

"Perverts!" hissed Ai as she spotted several men, apparently staring at her ass.

It was all the distraction that Kakashi needed. He leapt forward, striking Ai, hard, in the chest. The force of the blow sent her reeling backwards, totally off balance and unprotected. Kakashi kept up his attack, lunging for her, a series of hand seals mid-flow.

"Kaori!" yelled Youshi. He leapt in between Ai and the Konoha Jounin she was fighting. He breathed a sigh of relief when he blocked the deadly blow. "You owe me one, Babe!"

"WHAT?!" yelled the Akatsuki members as one.

"You're one of them?!" growled Pein.

"Told you she was the freak!" announced Kisame.

Pein lunged forward, aiming for Ai. "Traitor!" he yelled, ready to kill her with his bare hands. Suddenly, Konan was grabbing his arm, stopping his attack. His eyes blazed with betrayal. "Not you!" he hissed.

Konan shock her head but quickly winced in pain due to a gash on her shoulder. "I'm hurt, Pein…" Pein's eyes instantly locked on Konan's bleeding wound, and softened slightly as she continued speaking. "…and we're getting surrounded. We don't have time for their games!"

Pein nodded, then wrapped an arm around Konan's waist to support her. He called to Kisame. "Go get Itachi! We're out of here!"

Kisame nodded and dashed off to where he had last seen his friend. Konan pulled away from Pein and struck a powerful blow to Ai's face, knocking the younger woman to the ground. She leaned in close and carefully whispered so no-one but Ai could hear.

"You owe me for this, baby sister!"

Then Konan stepped back, into the waiting arms of an enraged Pein, and let her fury loose in her words. "If I ever see you again, traitor, I'll kill you!"

With that, Konan and Pein leapt as one and vanished from sight, taking the rest of their, surviving, followers with them.

Ai leapt to her feet and charged at Youshi. She moved too quickly for him to block any of her attacks.

"You stupid son of a bitch!"

Ai punched Youshi so hard in the jaw that the sickening cracking sound it caused, echoed around the trees. It was closely followed by the thud and pained yelp of Youshi landing in a crumpled heap.

"I was only trying to help!" coughed Youshi.

"BY BLOWING MY COVER?!" screamed Ai.

"He was going to kill you!" snapped Youshi, trying to defend his actions, and his life.

"No, I wasn't!" Kakashi snapped back. "I was maintaining her cover! Idiot!"

Youshi looked up at Ai, pleadingly. "But… Kaori…"

"Don't 'But, Kaori' me, Garukin!" Ai shouted. "Four fucking years! You just destroyed four years of undercover work! If Lady Hokage doesn't kick your ass for this, I WILL!"

Those surrounding the blazing argument wore mixed expressions. Some were shocked, some were confused but all were disgusted at Youshi.

"Murderer!" hissed Ai as she removed her Water Village headband, replacing it with a Konoha one from a secret pocket, hidden in the bottom of her weapons pouch. "As Ai, I was almost close enough to find out their big plan." she finished tying the leaf headband and glared at him. "Now I'm back to being Kaori, I'll be as clueless as you!"

Naruto chuckled. "You lost your cover, not your IQ!"

Kakashi laughed. "Very true! Welcome back, Kaori Mizuri!"

"Another youthful spring spirit has returned to our family!" cheered Lee as Gai looked on, teary eyed.

"Oh Kami!" sighed Kaori. "Not those two! Anything but them!" she sighed again while glancing around. "Where's Sakura when I need her?"

Naruto gasped and Kakashi paled as they realised Sakura was nowhere to be found. Kaori realised their concern instantly. "Where did you last see her?" Kaori's jaw dropped slightly as she saw where Naruto was motioning.

"Oh Kami!" she gasped. The next word out of her mouth, although barely audible as she sped away from the assembling group, was enough to chill the very soul of all who heard it.

"Itachi!"

***

Sakura was in trouble. She knew it was a mistake the second she charged at the Uchiha but her raging agony refused to be silenced. Her body moved under its own control as her broken heart still wept for Sasuke and her mind screamed out for sanity, for safety.

Itachi blocked every move she threw at him, not even breaking a sweat. Sakura knew there was no way she could win this but her body still refused to let her quit.

'This monster killed our Sasuke-kun!' screamed Inner Sakura.

'He's going to kill us too!' Sakura mentally replied.

'At least we'll be with Sasuke-kun again!' came Inner Sakura's response.

Sakura's eyes widened in fear at her suddenly suicidal thoughts. This was not good.

It was the only opening Itachi needed to take advantage, and control. He struck Sakura, hard, in the chest, knocking her, winded, to the ground. Slowly, he reached behind him and pulled something out from under his cloak. Sakura's breath caught in her throat as she gasped in horror.

Itachi smirked. "You like my new sword?" Sakura tried in vain to fight back the tears as Itachi raised the sword, preparing to strike. "I think it fitting, don't you?" mocked Itachi. "Using my little brothers sword to send you to join him!"

Sakura gasped in fear and pain as the sword began moving again. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the sword of the man she loved, tainted by the man he despised.

To be continued…

A/N: Hands up all those who want to kill me for that cliff-hanger ending. (Wait, why is my own hand up? LOL)