a/n: sorry, my fans, that I haven't updated in forever. High school has been chaotic for me but at least it's been giving me some ideas for this story.

Chapter 10

Sasori came back down the stairs in seconds after I mentioned that my plan included the Akatsuki. He wore his cloak, collar cropped up, a fish-net undershirt and long pants. We all climbed into Sasori's truck. Shikamaru got into the back, even though there was room next to me in the front since I sat in the middle.

"So what's your plan, Suzume?" Sasori asked.

"First we'll go to my family thing and see what's going on. Then my uncle will get to meet you. I know for sure he won't like you because, well, he hates Nii-san and I anyway. Then, once he gets all pissed off, it's bound to piss someone else off and start up another family fight. Then all four of us will go find Hidan, Kakuzu and Deidara. I know they're hiding in the city or at least outside it. They knew I'd come here and Asuma-sensei paid my price. I can't let them get me or anyone else in my homeland. We have to get to them and fast." I said, anger boiling within me as I fought back the tears. It was my entire fault that Asuma is dead.

"Revenge isn't a good answer, Suzume." Sasori's voice half warned. I leaned into his shoulder and he wrapped his arm around me.

"I know but right now, it's the only one we have." I whispered into his side and buried my face within. "Let me know when we arrive at the compound."

I felt myself drift to sleep into Sasori's side. The two of them must have thought I fell asleep because they began a conversation about me. I hate it when people start talking about me when I was around them.

"Has she always felt this guilty when something goes bad?" Sasori asked.

"If something goes wrong, she instantly blames herself. She feels like she should take on any reasonability of anything bad that happened on the mission. She always put her team over herself. Last mission she went on for Konoha, it was just her, Sasuke Uchiha, me, her cousin, Hinata, Choji and Naruto. Sasuke said he'd take the position of leader but the Hokage chose Suzume because she is the first Hyuuga to accomplish multiple uses for the Byakugon at the age of ten. She technically could have finished high school by now. So could have I but we decided to stick together." Shikamaru brought up my last mission. The one that went terribly wrong but we still succeeded in. "But our last mission, Choji and Hinata got into some trouble. Choji got injured and Hinata got captured. Suzume instantly went into what I call 'Sergeant Mode.' That's when she takes charge, like a leader, splits from the team to go rescue whoever's in trouble when one of team members is hurt or can't go on and completes the mission herself."

"She's done that a few times. I hate it when she does." Sasori said, squeezing my body into his. "She can take of herself but I wish she'd rely on me more. So, Suzume's always been this way? Ever since you two were little?"

"Oh yeah! Have you ever seen her furious?" Shikamaru asked. "Turn right here."

I felt the car shift to the left as Sasori turned right. "I don't believe I have. Do I want to know how she's like when she's pissed?"

"Sasori, for her, there's a difference between pissed and furious. You don't ever want to see her furious!" Shikamaru said. "Pull up to the big gate."

I sat up as we pulled to a stop. I pretended to yawn and stretch. "You might as well, put it in park and lock it up. We aren't going to be here long." I said. Shikamaru got out but Sasori and I stayed a little longer.

"You weren't asleep, were you?" he asked, running his fingers through my hair.

"How'd you guess?" I said, scooting towards him.

"Because you like to snuggle into the wall or into a body when you sleep." Sasori pulled me into his body, pressing my back into his body and placing his arms around me in a protective circle. "Like this."

"Did you stay awake to watch me sleep last night, Sasori?" I asked, looking up at him. "Or have you been staying awake to watch me sleep each time we've stayed the night with each other?"

"Yes. You're so adorable when you sleep, by the way." Sasori said, pressing his forehead into mine. I then arched my neck to look more up into his beautiful eyes. He leaned in and kissed my neck, hungrily, like a vampire would before biting down for his meal. My eyes fluttered closed, feeling his ecstasy spell working. I let out a gasp as he bit down on my neck, with gentle care. This was the first time he's ever bitten my neck. The slight pain was a pleasure to my system, relaxing my body in his arms entirely. I felt breathless and weightless in his arms. When Sasori let go, I didn't want him to stop.

"What was that for? And why haven't done that before?" I asked, still breathless.

"I love you, Suzume. Do I need a reason?" Sasori smirked.

"I love you too." I said. "We may want to get out of the car, my puppet man."

"I'd follow you anywhere, my sparrow." His grin grew. Sasori grasped my hand and we slid out of the truck. We walked out holding hands onto the compound. Neji came bounding over to us.

"Do you have a death wish, Suzume?" He asked, his voice sounding of concern and irradiance. "Hi Sasori, Shikamaru."

"Neji, Asuma-sensei's dead because of a member of Sasori's 'club' and it was also my fault." I told him. When I ever I brought up Sasori's gang, I quote it as a club. "I have a plan to slip out of here and get revenge for his unnecessary death."

I felt Sasori's arm encircle around my waist. Then my ears picked up the pride stride of one who thought he was high and mighty coming towards us from behind me. I turned around to face my uncle.

"Uncle-sama." I said, expressionless. Sasori pulled me furtherer into him as my uncle glared at us. Shikamaru stood on my other side. I crossed my arms across my chest.

"Neji, I thought Suzume was coming, not this piece trash hanging over a gang member from the country of Rain?" My uncle said.

"Fighting words, Uncle." I replied. "Sasori, this is my uncle. Uncle, this is my boyfriend."

"You know the rules, Suzume." Neji warned. By now, everyone has gathered around us.

"Plan in commence." I whispered. Then louder I replied, "Of course I know the rules but I choose to follow a different set of rules. Do you know what set of rules I mean, Uncle?"

"I do not. Why don't you fill me in?" My uncle asked. I smirked at his reply.

"Byakugon battle rules. I challenge you to a Byakugon battle!" I said. The crowd of my clan gasped at my bold words. I continued. "I have studied every single way of ninja and our families' ways of fighting. I've trained myself to be a fierce warrior. If you decline then you'll be shown as a coward! Am I right?"

Heads nodded in our crowd but their expressions were a mixture of terror and fear. My uncle looked shocked at my proposal. I looked to my brother who knew what I was up against. He looked scared. Sasori looked astonished. Shikamaru looked worried.

"I accept your challenge, Suzume Hyuuga." My uncle said.

"Let's make this interesting, uncle. I win, Neji become the new head of the family. I lose, you disown me. Fair?" I said.

"SUZUME!" Neji yelled. "I thought you had a plan!"

"I do. This is part one." I said. "Well, accept?"

"I, once again, accept." He said. "When will this all happen?"

"Right now." I said. "In the main training grounds."

"Very well." He said. Uncle walked past me to the main training ground. My brother, Sasori, Shikamaru and Hinata circled around me.

"Suzume, what is going through your thick skull!? You know your uncle and his fighting style." Shikamaru said.

"I know his weak spot." I stated. "His pride blinds him."

"Sparrow, don't get hurt. Be very careful, my girl." Sasori said. I buried my face into his chest. I nodded, inhaling his sweet scent.

"Suzume, please don't do this." Neji said.

"I have to. It's time someone puts our uncle in his rightful place. I'm going to be that person. I'm only other one who can. I will win and you will be head of the family, like you should be." I said, coming out of Sasori's embrace. I placed my hand on Neji's shoulder.

"you will be a great warrior in this battle, Suzume. I want my father out of the leader position. Do great." Hinata said, her voice sounded confident. I gave her a hug. I turned to Sasori again. He pulled me into his arms. I looked into his eyes. His lips touched mine. Electric. I didn't want to pull away but then he pulled away. He gently kissed my forehead, which was his way of telling to be careful. Nodding in response, I pulled out my long blades and headed to the training ground where my battle was to begin.

A/n: okay guys. Let me know if you like it. Things are definitely maturing and heating up with Suzume and Sasori, aren't they? But what is going through her head? Fighting her uncle?! insane