I'm finding it hard to get back into a rhythm, so please bear with me as I get my schedule on straight. I will continue working on all my fan fiction works to conclusion!

Chapter 36:
Art of Knowing

Naruto never hesitated to follow the mercenaries into the complicated maze of twisting tunnels. He was confident in his abilities, but he realized his peace of mind was not rooted there alone. He strongly believed in Hinata. As his smirk grew to an assertive grin that dominated his face, he declared the end of the chase. "Come on Hinata, let's take 'em down!" He paused to give her a moment to respond.

He nearly skidded to a halt when he heard no reply. He knew he couldn't afford to give up chase. If he lost the mercenaries, he held no illusion that he could find them or his way out. "Hey, Hinata-chan?" His concern grew as he stretched his senses and could not detect her unique chakra signature. "Hinata-chan?" He looked over his shoulder. "Argh, how could be so stupid!"

The mercenaries must have heard him because they were lined up just ahead of him. He sighed. With or without Hinata, it was time to face Junichi's hired thugs. As he slowed to a stop, he imagined a few dozen methods to take them out. He clenched his fist as he prepared to mold chakra. "It's unimaginative, but it'll get the point across." He reasoned. "Ha! Who do you think you're messing with?" He pushed his hands together and prepared his signature technique. "Kage…"

He paused as a crystal hit his forehead. "Huh…?" It was a worthless gesture. The crystal only hit his forehead protector, and the assailant didn't even put much force behind it. He shook his head and made a move to step forward. He redoubled concentrating on his favored ninjutsu. However as his foot landed, he felt a strange feeling overtake his senses. For a moment, he thought he heard the mercenaries snicker and loose a cry of victory.

Images swirled around him, and he felt nauseous. He managed to focus his vision on the crystal lying at his feet. He wondered if there was a trick to it as conscious thought retreated, and dreams seemed to sweep over him. He saw faces, from the distant and near past. They jumbled together, and they blurred into unrecognizable pigment as he tried to focus on one or the other.

Before he realized what was going on, he heard a familiar conversation. He almost stopped midstride as Kanaeru explained the events of the past months to Taketo. He shook his body as he tried to ignore the sense of déjà vu. However, his training under Jiraiya wouldn't allow him to ignore the obvious replay of a recent memory.

Instead, he looked around and noticed inconsistencies. He knew recognizing small irregularities was one thing, and it was separate from actually escaping from a genjutsu. He learned long ago that he was no good with the subtleties involved in creating and maintaining an illusion. He was far worse at escaping them. Still in recognizing he was in one, he could minimize or eliminate the threat of an enemy extricating valuable information from his mind.

The knowledge did nothing to put his mind at ease.

He decided to flow with the memory. Until somebody found the opportunity or reason to release him with foreign chakra, he was trapped anyway. He had no idea who was skilled enough to use genjutsu among the mercenaries. He also didn't understand the significance of the crystal that hit his forehead. With a heavy sigh, he figured they were mysteries better left for later.

He blinked. He neither heard nor felt the sigh. He more sensed it like a mental apparition. He looked around and finally realized what type of genjutsu he was in. He was detached from his body; he was watching his memories like a movie in the first-person perspective. The flow of time continued without him. He couldn't interfere or drive events.

The memory was inconsequential. Though it showed Whirlpools, they never mentioned the name of the village or land. There was no information to take from the memory. It also did not seem they were trying to break him. Though he felt a tumult of emotions at the time, he felt more joy to know he had a family. He could not imagine why they choose a memory of no relation to the current mission.

With another specter of a sigh, he decided to just watch the memory and enjoy it as best he could. He only hoped somebody released him from the mental trap soon. Still, it was strange to watch the memory from a detached perspective.

"Well…" Taketo turn his attention to the Konoha shinobi without preamble. "…I certainly cannot dispute your commitment. You do not seem the sort to betray secrets entrusted to you, and our existence is currently our biggest secret. I didn't want Kanaeru to bring you here too soon, but it seems she took matters into her own hands."

"Otou-sama!" Kanaeru protested.

Taketo sighed. "Forgive me. For now, you're to be treated as honored guests. As I said earlier, let's sit down to enjoy a meal before you prepare for your first mission."

The Konoha shinobi refrained from comment. The leader of Whirlpools was difficult to read. He didn't let his emotions slip through. Even his sigh seemed devoid of feeling. However, Naruto had a different read on him. He didn't know what conclusions the others reached, but he understood his perspective.

He didn't really or fully understand what he actually felt. Taketo's chakra was, for lack of an apt description, restrained. To Naruto, it seemed his grandfather was keeping the bulk of his power tightly lidded in a small container. He imagined the old man's emotions were similarly reserved.

For a second perspective, Kyuubi no Kitsune added her own voice. She didn't say much, but he gathered enough. He didn't know how accurate his assessment was, but he got the distinct impression that emotions and chakra are somehow intertwined. Since Kyuubi was somewhat distraught over Taketo's reaction, he wasn't sure of anything.

The restaurant they stopped at was pleasant enough. It was an expensive-looking location, and they had to wait for hand-made courses. It gave them a chance to converse. Naruto already knew what was to be said. He didn't concentrate on the words. Instead, he focused on new lessons to be learned. If he was going to be stuck in a memory, he was going to come away with a new understanding. Kakashi always said to look underneath the underneath, and Jiraiya helped drive home the lesson.

In hindsight, Taketo seemed anxious. He was certainly stiff, but he picked his words as if he was stepping on eggshells. Even looking back, Naruto couldn't learn anything new. His grandfather was interested in the two, young jinchuuriki. Though he didn't ask many questions, he seemed satisfied with what he gained. It confounded Naruto to no end.

Once the appetizer was consumed and main course delivered, conversation turned towards innocent Momiji. She sat next to Naruto and shied away from curious glances from onlookers. While Taketo observed her, guards in the background monitored her reactions. The Konoha shinobi were incensed, but Kanaeru explained it was necessary and harmless. As she explained, she showed certain characteristics recognized unique to the Uzumaki.

When the main course was consumed and desert was prepared, conversation turned to a new topic. They could not, in good conscious, take Momiji on the mission to Old Tree. All four Konoha shinobi were needed for the mission, and, as much as they hated to admit it, Momiji would only serve as a distraction. Nevertheless, it was not easy to convince her to stay. By the end of dinner, she clung to Naruto and refused to release him.

They walked into a shop drawing curious looks from curious onlookers. Though they rarely saw outsiders, they never imagined their great leader leading them around. As they bought last minute provisions, they continued to try convincing Momiji. Though she remained obstinate, everybody could tell reason was slowly breaking her resolve.

She seemed to understand that there was nothing she could do as they progressed towards the main entrance. She no longer clung to Naruto's leg. Instead, she held his hand with a downcast face. She pouted and looked on the verge of tears. At the village threshold, the blond jinchuuriki turned and kneeled before the red-haired jinchuuriki.

She heaved a sobbing breath as he placed his hands on her shoulders; though, he was impressed when she didn't cry. "Come now, Momo-chan. We'll be back." His tone was gentle and comforting.

She managed to respond between choked breaths. "Do you promise?"

He smiled. "Yeah."

"Really?" She rubbed her eyes.

"Really." He smiled warmly.

"Really, really?" She wanted reassurance.

He sighed happily, as a big brother might over a little sister. "Hey, I'm Uzumaki Naruto. I never go back on my…" He couldn't finish as she wrapped her small arms around his neck. "…word. That's my nindo." He finished softly as he patted her back.

Shikamaru smirked. "Troublesome." He signaled for the rest of the team to get ready. "Well, it's time to head out."

Naruto stood slowly enough for Momiji to get the message. She let go, and…his vision went black. He felt foreign chakra invade his body. He heard voices filter through his subconscious long before he was aware enough to understand what was going on.

As Naruto stared down his captors, he berated himself. Once again, his impatience got the better of him. He walked right into a rather obvious trap. He knew the mercenaries wouldn't run forever. They would feel as if their pride were injured if they lost to a couple of children, even if they were ninja. However, he was confused by the mission target's reaction.

"Naruto?" Junichi repeated. Miyagi and Aina looked to him confused. "Are you absolutely positive he is Uzumaki Naruto?" They only nodded, not sure what to say, and they backed away at his reaction. A mad chuckle emanated from deep within his throat. His face twitched greedily as he prepared an addendum to his initial plans. "It seems, Yorukage, we just scored big."

"What are you talking about?" Aina started. "All we did was capture a little demon, and I doubt his sensei is very far behind! If we don't prepare for Sharingan Kakashi, whatever you have planned is doomed, and I'd rather keep my anonymity." Her anger was obvious as her tirade subsided. She visibly fumed, and flushed skin revealed her anxiety.

Junichi only smirked and snapped his fingers. A mercenary immediately produced a well-worn book and placed it in his waiting hands. The well-dressed man carefully, precisely flipped through marked and frayed pages. When he came to what he was looking for, he licked his lips. "It is oft said to never look a gift horse in the mouth." He chuckled once more. "I was looking to retire and find a quiet place to settle down in some distant land. Now, I think I might buy one instead and enjoy a comfortable twilight."

Miyagi and Aina didn't recognize the book he held. The former decided to speak up. "We're not entirely sure what you're getting at. Retirement's fine and all, but what does this troublesome pest have to do with it?"

Junichi was almost giddy as he explained. "You ninja have something of a bounty list book, right?" They nodded. "This is quite similar. I cannot rely solely on the skills I have accumulated over my lifetime, so I have found appropriate allies." He paused, turning his attention and greedy smirk to their captive. "I shall be paid handsomely for this demon's capture, by Akatsuki."

Miyagi and Aina pensively shared glances. After a moment, they nodded, and the latter spoke. "Listen, it's dangerous to hold him. We should just make him believe some invented story with a genjutsu and carry out your plan to escape to some secluded retirement. Even if you can trust Akatsuki, I'm afraid we can't."

The business dressed employer raised an eyebrow, curious. Miyagi continued. "Our former village was filled with fools, but we still have friends and family." He rolled his eyes. "It may seem troublesome, but Aina still lives there. She saw the devastation Akatsuki wreaked."

Junichi only laughed. When he noticed their incensed expressions, he apologized. "Ah, sorry, sorry. I did not mean to laugh at your plight. I only mean; you will not leave this deal empty handed. I mean to pay you twice – no, four times the original asking price."

The members of Yorukage laughed as one. "Our services are not cheap, Junichi." Miyagi stated matter of factly once their apparent mirth died. "I doubt even you could pay such a remuneration."

Junichi's smirk widened. "I am only paying a small fraction of what Akatsuki offers a civilian for capturing the demon you so fear, and even that is over twice as much as they offer a ninja for the capture." Thoughtful expressions replaced incredulous ones. The business-like criminal continued. "Already, your services have profited me, and I intend to be beholden to no one."

Miyagi was about to respond when Naruto blurted out. "Hey, hey, hey, don't just ignore me!" He growled grumpily. They looked at him as if they just realized he was conscious. "Akatsuki won't pay you, anyway! They'll just kill you and take me." He didn't want to be taken by the criminal organization, but he was also hoping to garner some information from their mission's target.

Junichi chuckled. "It does not concern you. However, I have dealt with the underworld since I struck out on my own, and, unlike others in my profession, I know all about prison." He paid special attention to the reactions of his audience. After a moment, he walked to the door and prepared to open it. "I know what to watch for, and Akatsuki smells of desperation." He let the comment hang in the air as he walked out, Yorukage shortly behind him.

The door nearly slammed behind them, and Naruto lowered his head as he contemplated his situation. He was definitely trapped in enemy territory. He didn't need to struggle against his bonds to know he couldn't mold his chakra. "Junichi is cautious and well equipped. I hope the others can catch up to me soon."

He looked around the room. The walls revealed little. He was in a small cavern within the complicated maze of tunnels. The room was lit and barren. Though he saw similar crystals to what the mercenaries hit him with, he saw no mercenaries to guard him. He wondered if whatever prevented him from molding chakra might also weaken or sicken. He only had conjecture, no real reason.

He kicked and yelled in frustration. "I just had to go and get captured. I lost Hinata-chan, and Shikamaru and Sakura-chan aren't done with their part of the mission." He sighed. Things were not going well. He leaned his head back and tried to think as he stared at the ceiling. "Junichi is confident in his ability to deal with Akatsuki." He narrowed his eyes. "What exactly did he do for Old Tree's former daimyo?"

As he pondered the target's revelations and his situation, he thought he heard distant sobbing.

Neji and Tenten sat at the edge of the camp overlooking the last leg of their trek to Demons' capital. While Mizukura checked and double checked logistics, they discussed weather and road conditions vital to identifying potential shinobi ambush points. While Shion's guards could handle most ordinary opponents, just two shinobi could drive them into a corner.

It was the end of yet another boring day on the long journey. They planned each night for potential attacks, and they ended each day with nothing to worry about. Demons had few enemies, but they weren't about to take any chances. Internal strife led to the attempt on Momiji's life, and it was unlikely the people knew Shion was returning without her adoptive daughter.

The clouds overhead rumbled, and Neji looked up. "It looks like we'll see another few days of non-stop rain." He sighed lightly and returned his attention to his teammate. "It'll slow our progress, but we should be there in another two days."

Tenten mirrored his exasperation with a heavy sigh and rested her elbows on her knees. Escorting civilians was always trying, but it was more difficult to transport royalty with an overprotective retinue of guards. She understood and respected their attendance to duty, but the slow march was annoying and fatigued them.

However, she was forced to reconcile that Shion had a harder time of it. At Kanaeru's suggestion, she left her beloved adoptive daughter with the man she affectionately called husband. The Konoha Shinobi didn't know all the reasons, and they didn't pry. Whatever reasons existed, they were private matters. Mizukura and the guard were just as concerned, but they were similarly reserved.

Shion put on a strong, outward front. She smiled easily, and she laughed and joked. Still, everybody knew she missed the adorable redhead. They knew it was hard to live life as usual with a piece missing. She was lonely, and she only allowed depression to wash over or tears to overflow in private. She hid her moments of weakness, and those who followed her respected her all the more for it.

"The land weeps." Mizukura spoke as he approached, and they looked up surprised at his words. He never took his eyes off the clouds as he spoke. "I don't know why, but I sense uncertainty for the coming days." He released a heavy breath. "Though it brought her misery, I miss the solace we once found in her predictions."

Neji and Tenten looked to the clouds, hoping to catch what the captain of the guard sensed.

Samurai marched outside a large structure that seemed to jut from the land. They were obviously guarding the massive building. They formed an army, and they stood as a barrier between those meeting within and those who might attack from without. Though they understood the necessity, they felt like ants compared to the great powers discussing issues important to continued stability across the land.

Samurai stringently adhered to oaths of honor, so none dared eavesdrop. If they did, they might find much lighter topics of conversation interspersing with the tedium of ensuring that the serious threat of Akatsuki comes to a quick and decisive end.

"So…" The Mizukage cooed sweetly into Kakashi's ear. "I met your jinchuuriki on my way here." He looked at her skeptically. She smiled coyly. "You don't have to believe me, but I must say I was reminded of myself before I became my village's Fifth."

He chuckled. "I find that hard to believe." He fixed his free eye on her bright orbs to observer her reaction to his next statement. "Some still call you a revolutionary. Though I can't say I blame you for deposing your previous leader, most of his loyalists seem to have joined Akatsuki."

She bristled briefly and sighed. Inwardly, she admitted he had struck a nerve. "Ah, there is some truth to what you say." She was forced to acquiesce somewhat. She then continued, venom entering her words. "However, I cannot control what those privileged elites decided to do. We were controlled like puppets on a string, and we are a proud people predisposed to hate puppet masters."

Kakashi seemed satisfied with her reaction. Still, he didn't understand why she compared her earlier self to Naruto. He leaned back and looked to the ceiling. Unlike the other Kage, he had elected to stay in the meeting hall during the brief recess. His companion from Kiri returned shortly after dismissing her bodyguards.

Though he had no intention of harming the Mizukage, her ensemble made valid arguments. However in the end, they grudgingly left them to talk in private. At first, he hadn't expected the subject matter to concentrate on Konoha's blond jinchuuriki. After a brief rumination, he resumed the conversation. "He's brash, but he's loyal. He's full of ideals, but he lacks real world experience. I guess we were all like that at one point."

Mei shook her head. "That's not what I mean, and you know it." He looked at her, curious. "His eyes are bright and full of promise. If he does lack real world experience, it's because he has experienced the curse of the jinchuuriki." She rested her chin on joined fingers and contemplated her words. "He lacks the warmth of a mother's love and father's discipline."

"If anything…" She tilted her head just enough to rest her furtive eyes on him. "…he lived in the darkness of the world, and he managed to find a sliver of light and cling to it with desperate strength." She leaned back in her chair suddenly enough to give the interim Hokage pause, and she took advantage of his momentary lapse. "He's a lot like me because I was lost and fought tooth and nail to find even a single drop of light."

She waggled a finger at him and clucked her tongue against the roof of her mouth with a 'tut, tut, tut.' "Don't presume, Kakashi-kun, that we of the mist are without compassion. It was out of fear that the prestigious elites admonished and hunted those with kekkei genkai. I hope it's no secret that I've worked hard to correct that mistake."

He smiled under his mask. "I think nothing of the sort." She seemed satisfied at his response and stood to leave. She returned to her seat just as the doors to the meeting hall opened and ushered in the remaining three Kage. Behind them, two bodyguards per Kage followed closely behind. Lastly, moderators invited from various neutral and allied ninja villages entered and closed the large doors.

The meeting, full of open discussions and arguments, was about to begin again. So far, they had accomplished little besides identifying Akatsuki as a common threat and enemy. Though all agreed Akatsuki had to be dealt with, they seemed unable to reach a decision on how to deal with an obviously looming hazard.

Kakashi felt relieved to have Gara's support. However, the three remaining Kage did not make it easy. The Mizukage was amiable, but she cautiously approached ideas. The Raikage appeared distracted and anxious, but he asserted a strong desire to lead any operations against Akatsuki. The Tsuchikage appeared ready to see Akatsuki as a potential shinobi village, and he portended potential war ravaging the land if they persisted.

As they argued, Kakashi wondered if even Naruto's ceaseless optimism would dwindle in the face of such obstinate opposition. It was not easy to turn the opinions of powerful leaders for they bore the weight of loyalty to their daimyo and country as well as the lives of all shinobi under their command. He had to find a way to make the issue vitally important to them. He had to make Akatsuki's threat personally relevant to each land and each village.

As he listened to the Tsuchikage argue as stubborn as a mountain, he inwardly sighed and dared not outwardly show his frustration and contempt.

Sasame was earnestly surprised when she was summoned to a mission briefing. She didn't know what to expect when Shizune ordered them to attend to unknown casualties far to the north of Konoha. She was pleasantly surprised to see Isaribi, Shino, and Kiba. She was suspicious of the ANBU captain told to accompany them, Hawk. Still, she accepted it.

She did inquire about one thing before they left. She wanted to know why only one medic was being sent to attend to the wounded Konoha shinobi. The answer hadn't satisfied her, and she was further dissatisfied to see the extent of the injuries. At the same time, she fully understood the implications.

Konoha herself was injured, and they could spare no more medics.

She knew, and she even understood. However, she just wasn't satisfied! Yamato, Anko, and Sai were badly injured, and their treatment did nothing to improve their condition. While she was sure the local medics were competent enough to deal with common injuries in the civilian world, she witnessed firsthand how poorly they responded to the injuries caused by shinobi.

While it took them a little over half a day to reach the small trade village, their messenger bird took nearly a week to reach Konoha. Apparently, the messenger bird should have only taken approximately three days, but something had disoriented it. In the time it took them to reach the injured tracker team, the rescue team was dismayed to find them feverish with poorly set bones.

In the weeks since arriving in Kitaboueki, Sasame set about the slow and difficult task of once more breaking bones and setting them properly. As she accelerated cellular growth and immune response, she attentively listened to Hawk and Isaribi debrief them. The information was important enough to treatment that no one objected to her presence.

She learned they were tracking Kabuto when an unknown assailant attacked them from behind. They were unsure of the exact order in which they were attacked, but they felt it likely that the assailant targeted Sai as the youngest to garner information from. Without a Yamanaka, they were unlikely to learn what the assailant was after. Because none could describe the attacker or attackers, Sasame was forced to also look for head trauma and potential persistent genjutsu.

She was relieved to find no persistent genjutsu, but head trauma was nearly a given. Yamato complained of steady headaches, Anko heard ringing, and Sai had some difficulty seeing. The weeks were rough, but she managed to have them nearly fully recovered by the time Naruto arrived in Old Tree, unbeknownst to them.

When Yamato and Anko were well enough to walk about freely, they joined Isaribi and Hawk to talk to the village leader. Sasame approached Kiba and Shino to find out why they wanted to talk with Chin Keita. Neither knew, so she was left in the dark. She wasn't concerned, though. She was sure they had good reason. Instead, she rededicated her time to Sai.

Of the injuries, his left arm was the worst, and his sight wasn't fully recovered for whatever reason. He had difficulty with his peripheral vision, and his ability to distinguish color appeared diminished. She couldn't identify the reason. His occipital lobe was barely bruised, and the gash over his eye had long since healed. On the other hand, the assailant had seen fit to badly twist and crush Sai's arm.

She often sighed while working. When asked what was wrong, she deflected the question and continued healing unabated. Inwardly, she worried. Yamato and Anko's injuries, though sever, were not as problematic as their younger companion. The assailant badly gnarled Yamato's clavicle, and the same person cut Anko's Achilles tendon and caused simple fractures in three places along her leg. For head trauma, Yamato only suffered a concussion, and Anko had her eardrums punctured.

The injuries only confirmed suspicions that the assailant struck at Sai last. The injuries were too extreme for an ambush. According to evidence, they could not have been attacked from behind and subdued quickly, or else the alternative was too horrible to conceive. Whatever had happened, it was impossible to reconstruct the event, and they all feared the implications.

While Sasame attended to Sai under the watchful gaze of her bodyguards Kiba and Shino, Isaribi focused on her own duties as Konoha's spy master. Initially, she gathered information on the sight of the assault from Yamato, Anko, and Keita. Hawk only observed the proceedings and reconstructed the event as best she could. However, there was little to go on, and they ruled out Kabuto as the assailant.

Based on past experiences, he had no motive, and he was more inclined to try talking. He refused to confront Kakashi because he was outclassed. It was unlikely he would feel particularly confident facing an ANBU, jounin, and ROOT agent. The injuries also didn't fit his modus operandi. He was careful and precise, and he attacked with surgical precision. He could separate tendon from bone without sign of physical harm, so he had no need to fracture bone.

No, they were dealing with an unknown. If they were lucky, the assailant was a member of Akatsuki. Even then, lucky was a subjective phrase. They were still dealing with somebody able to incapacitate three competent shinobi without them noticing, but it was better than the alternative. If they were unlucky, the assailant was a single rogue or one from an unknown organization. Then, they had absolutely no starting point.

For the time being, they agreed not to seek theories with so many unknowns. They could not afford to assume, so the investigation ended only baby steps from where it started. Once Anko and Yamato rejoined Sai, Isaribi and Hawk debriefed Keita on other matters. Unknown to the others, the trade town elder was a member of Jiraiya's spy network that Isaribi inherited.

He still didn't fully trust her, but Hawk's presence reassured him to some degree. He knew nobody could replicate her poise or attention to detail, and he suspected she was Hyuuga or Uchiha. He had no proof. Doubtless, she could be Yamanaka, Aburame, or Nara. They were also attentive, but he trusted his gut to narrow suspicion.

Whatever he felt about Isaribi, he carefully recollected the information that passed through Kitaboueki. Even the most innocuous rumor could divulge important information on the many movements of both ally and foe. Just as Jiraiya relied on untrained ears, Isaribi was thankful for what she gleamed of military, political, social, and economic movements. She also understood why Konoha shinobi often said that they feared the untrained ears of civilians more than the prudent ears of shinobi.

The fact that Kage moved to a centralized location for a summit had not escaped notice, but they already knew what the conference entailed. Instead, they concentrated on other movements. They also had to sift through battles that commonly occurred when shinobi met. They were less concerned with missions the other shinobi villages partook in and more interested in how Akatsuki moved in response to losing the puppet leader.

The information was difficult to discern. There were unusual movements that recognized nations could not account for. If Akatsuki was responsible for anything they saw through rumors, they could not immediately tell.

A powerful force was moving through Wind towards Suna.

Two strange instances existed in Rice. A fearful presence moved with the swiftness of a shark through water, and, perhaps more frightening, it seemed to be on a beeline course for Void. Another force seemed to be sitting near, or even in, one of Orochimaru's old hideouts.

In Demons, clandestine attempts to enter the palace grounds raised guard patrols.

In Earth, a known black marketer skillfully evaded pursuit forces as he headed north or east.

In Lightning, a well liked and respected shinobi was attacked by an unknown assailant, and her child was taken despite her violent defense.

Isaribi and Hawk agreed. The six movements potentially had connections to Akatsuki. However, they estimated, at most, three major members were still in play. Sasuke's Team Hawk were still an independent organization with indeterminate ties to Akatsuki, and they were more likely to move as a cohesive unit than individually.

Though they had good information, they had nothing to move on. Konoha was too weak to investigate all six instances in a reasonable timeframe. They had to gather more information and consolidate rumors into something more tangible.

Madara looked up from a file he was reading. Zetsu knelt near the threshold of the obvious study. For a moment, Akatsuki's true leader seemed to ignore him as he returned his attention to the file. "It's rare for you to disturb me like this, Zetsu." He paused as he flipped a page. "What do you have to report?" His eyes slanted up impatiently.

His subordinate didn't disappoint as he immediately recounted what information he managed to put together. "As you know, we have spies all over the place. After we forced Kira Bii to reveal his deception, I recommenced operations to root out jinchuuriki wherever we still had operatives." He paused uncomfortably under his leader's burning gaze. "Unfortunately, several lands have managed to disable our operations, Fire key among them."

He breathed heavily as he fought against an angry tide. "Disappointingly, I was left few viable operatives and fewer lands." He confidently pulled out a manila folder, and a vine grabbed it and carried it across the room. As Madara put his other file down and opened it, Zetsu grinned and continued. "There are a disproportionately large number of superstitious incidents in Demons." He tilted his head in one direction. "It seems that a demon-possessed child was born three years ago."

Madara scratched his chin. "A few farmers disgruntled over a poor crop hardly make reliable sources." He flipped a page, and his eyes scanned the contents. "Circumstantial." He turned the page and read further. His eyes stopped in one section and tilted his head to one side.

Zetsu understood his sudden silence and interest. "It's a very rare feature; wouldn't you agree? To think, the 'fire hair' managed to migrate so far south." He paused and thought about what to say next. "Demons has non-aggression pacts with the five great shinobi nations, and they have a keen interest in keeping the land, especially its miko, around."

Madara's eyes rested dangerously on his subordinate. "As I've heard." He returned his attention to the file and flipped the page. He chuckled at a particular passage. "Our precious Kyuubi brat certainly gets around…" He sighed. "…but the same farmers who hate the 'fire hair demon' seem to love Naruto-kun. What makes him different?"

For several, long seconds, silence reigned as Zetsu thought through his next words. When he finally spoke, his speech was careful. "It does seem to be conjecture right now, but there are differences. The 'fire hair demon' was born during a particularly hard drought and was summarily blamed for it. When the Kyuubi visited, the people saw and rejoiced the jinchuuriki who saved her."

Madara nearly slammed the file on the nearby desk. "Get to the point, Zetsu." His demand seemed to resonate throughout the room.

Zetsu was prepared for some form of rage, but he could never get used to Akatsuki's true leader's calm, nearly subtle rage. "The 'fire hair demon' has been taken into the miko's care. My operatives can't track her any further. I can infiltrate the palace and learn the truth. If she's our new Hachibi, we'll be closer to your grand plan."

Madara didn't really need to think. If they sent more operatives, it would just waste resources. They needed somebody inside the palace to learn more, and the miko daimyo's personal guard were extensively screened. He also knew Akastuki's master spy could operate on his own. "I want answers, Zetsu. Go."

When the plant master disappeared into foliage and sank into the earth, Akatsuki's taskmaster returned to the file he was reading earlier. "How did Kira Bii survive losing the Hachibi? It may be a setback, but the answer may be a leap forward." He turned to the next page in the file and sighed. "At least that experiment was a success…"

The citizens of Void were a hearty people. They survived the great ninja wars unlike people of any other land. They were not isolationists, but they refused to take sides. They could not stand up to shinobi, and they had no hidden village. They never agreed to a non-aggression treaty. Instead, shinobi never saw fit to settle the land.

Where countries like Old Tree and Demons respectively relied on resources and non-aggression pacts, Void relied on techniques that arise from ancient seals and glyphs. No shinobi could explain it, or at least none were willing to explain it. Among rumors and speculation, there were shinobi with similar skills and techniques, the toad masters of Konoha for example.

Whatever techniques Void used, she was a prosperous land. Void traded openly with any land with exception of a single resource. The people of Void refused to trade military revenue. Void was the only land that never commissioned shinobi missions, and, likewise, they never offered their extensive library of unusual techniques or machines.

The mysterious guardians were perfect examples of Void's anonymity. When they were sighted, reports varied. Even among the most trained shinobi, nobody could agree on just what these Guardians were. To some, they were giants. To some, they were strange, stone golems. To others, they were great, elemental beasts. To still others, they were chakra beings of lesser power than the great bijuu. However, all agreed they were powerful beings to be feared.

The guardians caused awe in shinobi who witnessed them. Though stupefied, they understood one, key point. If they entered Void with any intent to cause harm, they were attacked immediately. The guardians didn't even care whom the intent was directed towards. While shinobi armies invaded Lightning, none attacked through Void.

Kisame knew all the rumors and facts surrounding Void. He grinned smugly as he looked towards the nearest guardian statue. He was far enough away that its head, sticking out of a canopy of trees, was barely a speck on the horizon. Unlike other shinobi, he didn't see the his mission as suicide. Instead, he reveled in it. It was a challenge he gladly accepted.

With his powerful head cleaver Samehada in hand, he was often compared to the great bijuu. He didn't know if he was as powerful as the great chakra beings, but he never cared. Even if his strength couldn't compare to Void's guardians, he would move forward with his mission. He sought the challenge. The challenge defined him, and he let it define him.

The Mizukage he believed him ordered him to change the world. Now, the Mizukage he believed in ordered him to march into Void and dethrone the mighty, mysterious guardians. The world knew Akatsuki was stationed in Rain. They needed time to regroup and restructure, and Madara doubted the hidden villages would stand still for very long.

Kisame understood his opinion. Though between five Kage there were five opinions, they were unlikely to leave Akatsuki to its own devices. Eventually, they would reach a consensus. It was only a matter of time, and they couldn't afford to delay for too long. However, he didn't understand one point of contention, and he would never bring it up before Madara.

Kisame was sure his true leader knew what he was doing, but he also understood something of politics. Though Void stood apart as a unique nation, nobody could deny strong economic alliances. If Akatsuki attacked Void, the hidden villages would be galvanized to unite and move against them. He never considered himself particularly clever, but he was not blind to motivation and momentum.

With a shrug, he stretched his head to either side until he felt and heard a reverberating crack and took a step forward. He rolled his shoulders as he flared his chakra. He bore sharp rows of shark-like fangs as his grin widened from ear to ear, and his eyes reflected his mirth. He emitted no bloodlust for he yet had no target, but he was sure his intentions were clear.

Kisame, a beast of nearly equal standing to bijuu, was invading the peaceful land of Void. With a chuckle, he mused to himself. "They are constantly prepared for war, but I wonder if they are actually equipped for me." The thought amused him, and he continued forward with all the speed of a shark through water.

He ran straight to the nearest village. He avoided paved roads. He did not fear for civilization, but rather desired to see a response to serendipitous entry. Void had no chakra sensors, so he was always curious how the mighty guardians responded so quickly and without prejudice. Besides, if the guardians did nothing to intercept him, he could start the bloodbath in a random village and let carnage draw them out. He did not care either way.

He felt nothing as he approached the village, and he started counting the distance by the tree branches between him and his target. As the monotony mounted, his frustration supplemented his thoughts. "Where are these guardians? Aren't they supposed to protect the citizens of Void?" He sighed with a nearly audible growl. "If they don't show up soon, I'll show them exactly why I'm called a beast. I'll rip the town to shreds, and I'll let rivers of blood flow across the land! I'll feed Samehada the lives they should zealously protect, and I'll mount heads as a reminder that even the mysterious guardians quake in my approach!"

In his musings, he noticed a large shadow. He looked at it curiously for he could not immediately identify its source. He sensed no living being approach. As he turned his neck to observe his pursuer, he was knocked from the forest canopy. The ground exploded beneath him, and he coughed as the dust settled. As he regain his bearings, he realized exactly what struck him, and his expression twisted in excitement.

Sasuke scowled as he looked over the village ruins. The devastation of war left a permanent scar. The ruins would never again prosper. They would never again see farmers till the land, fishers spear the riverbed, or traders haggle over prices. The ruins were once a crossroad of war. Armies of shinobi vied for dominance on any front, and those who couldn't fend for themselves fled or perished.

He hated the scene, and he let his hatred continue to fuel the fires of his desires. He didn't care about who or how the village was trampled. He understood collateral damage. He let the scene remind him, instead, of how the Uchiha were trampled underfoot. The ruins reminded him of home, and the sun sinking below the horizon reminded him of the smoldering scene of corpses and battle-worn houses.

He looked up when a shadow interrupted the scene. Karin approached with a hot plate of food. Juugo leaned against a wall in the distance as he watched the perimeter. The red haired sensor spoke up. "Suigetsu must be a real failure. It's been weeks, and he hasn't even returned from such a simple mission!" She smiled furtively and sat next to Sasuke. As she spoke, she shouldered closer to him. "If it were me, I would have dragged that toy back by now."

He rested his Sharingan on her dangerously. He knew exactly which buttons to press to make her regret her words, but he also wanted her to feel the weight of reproach. If he said she must doubt his decisions, she would only gently coo and explain them not as doubts but suggestions and deductions. She felt she was more competent for the mission because she knew more of stealth and espionage. She could sneak in, and nobody would be the wiser.

"Your jealousy is unbecoming." She bristled, wide-eyed at his response. Sasuke was aiming for that expression, and his internal gratification barely hinted in his expression with a ghost of a smile, one only an Uchiha or Hyuuga would notice. He turned his attention to the hot food before him and deliberately, slowly ate.

Karin was too dumbfounded to move. She didn't realize their leader's full plan. He didn't simply want to take the objective. He wanted to publicly humiliate the elders of Konoha. He wanted to break perceptions. Most of all, he wanted to lure all the pieces onto the carefully laid board. If the game was afoot, he was the only one in charge.

After giving her a moment to wallow in desperate misery, he wiped his mouth and explained why she wasn't the right person for the particular mission he sent Suigetsu on. "If I wanted something done without anybody noticing, I have no doubt you'd be the best candidate." Her mood brightened, and a blush crept across her cheeks. "However, I want Konoha to know exactly who is responsible."

A large blade with a hole large enough for a head to fit through landed between them just as Karin was about to curl up next to Sasuke again. While she nearly jumped out of her skin and crawled back, his only response was to angle his head to gaze at the roof of the nearest ruined building. "Is that witch trying to poison my image again?" Suigetsu spat angrily.

Karin stood incensed. "Watch where you throw your toys, idiot!" She growled before indignantly adding on. "Or perhaps, you're so incompetent you just fumbled around with it!" She didn't admit it out loud, but she was surprised that he managed to sneak up on them. Even if she might have been distracted by affections, she prided herself on being a sensor second to none. He was too arrogant to suppress or disguise his chakra.

Sasuke wanted to stem the encroaching headache, so he interrupted them to address a far more immediate concern. He made sure to emphasize each syllable to put his point across. "Where is your target objective?" With disdain, he noted his subordinate's arms were empty save his own equipment. The bag slung across his back was also too small.

Suigetsu turned his attention to their leader. His scowl grew into a placid expression, and he shrugged. "You didn't tell me anything about the desert, Sasuke-kun." His head exploded like a water balloon. As globules of water coalesced to reform his skull, his lips curled to reveal a near gleeful grin and a row full of sharp teeth. He chuckled as he stared at Sasuke's outstretched hand, and he broke into hysterical guffaws as their leader slowly retracted his arm.

"I don't see what's so funny." Juugo sighed as he walked up. He was always curious about his comrades behavior. Their team was a rather motley crew. He supposed it was leftover remnants from their leader's past life in Konoha. While the teammates might see no rhyme or reason, they were puzzle pieces complimenting each other in a much larger picture. At least he hoped that reason drove their leader's selection.

Sasuke slowly focused his Sharingan on Juugo when he spoke. With the same deliberate speed, he returned his gaze to Suigetsu. He merely tilted his nearly reformed head to one side, same confident grin adorning his features. He reached over his shoulder and opened the small back strapped across his back. "It took some doing, but I managed to complete the objective…" He reached into to the back and slowly extracted, first, a head.

Karin, wide-eyed, pointed an accusing finger at their companion. "That bag isn't big enough to hold the target!" Sasuke and Juugo also looked at him suspiciously. Then, Suigetsu melted into water, and their eyes followed the resulting rivulets to ground level. As he reformed, they awaited his explanation.

He held a young girl by the collar of her clothes, and his smirk grew wider. As she swayed in the air, he completed his earlier statement. "…and bring the target to the rendezvous point whole." He pointed his chin to Karin in an obvious gesture before tossing the girl to his redheaded teammate. Though annoyed by his behavior, she rushed to catch her.

Instead of dwelling on his target, Suigetsu returned his attention to Sasuke. His friendly expression dimmed slightly as he prepared for the question he knew would remain unasked. He knew their leader demanded the answer without saying anything. He leaned back and shouldered the wall and, in a relaxed tone, started. "Well, I'd like to say it was easy, but conditions weren't exactly to my liking."

He sighed. "The desert, Sasuke-kun, do you know how harsh the desert is? I tracked them all the way out to the desert, and I managed to infiltrate Suna." He shook his head. "Wasn't easy, it wasn't easy." He eyed their leader, his smirk sinister. "I presented myself and made my case. They didn't like it; they fought me. Oh, don't give me that expression. I didn't kill anybody you didn't want me to kill, and now I'm here."

"Explain it." Sasuke nearly growled. "All of it." He left no room for interpretation, and he was not about to brook excuses.

I like this chapter a lot better, but writer's block still retarded its growth.

I've officially switched to Microsoft Office 2007, so my word and page count may see some change from the standard I've been using up to now in 2003. They format a lot differently, but I like the new format a lot better as well as the tools available to me.

As always, reviews are appreciated, and flames outright ignored.

Story Word Count: 8,071
Story Page Count: 15

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