1zara-uchiha1 and I don't own the Naruto cast or anything else you might recognize. 1zara-uchiha1 owns Laura and I own Kahlan. Together we own the plot.

Chapter 43

Note: Acting skills get put to the test when being a spy.

~Kahlan's POV

The five ninjas that are jumping from rooftop to rooftop stop by jumping down to the ground in front of the Village Inn. So this is where they are staying. I'll add that to the list of information.

They walk inside and no one bothers even glancing at them. They take the stairs; I guess they don't trust elevators. The seven of us reach the top floor and waiting there is more people who are dressed like ninjas.

One ninja has grey hair that is…it has to be gelled because there is no way it can defy the laws of gravity. Another ninja is wearing the same type of shoes Laura wears with long spiky hair. Another ninja is wearing a shirt that shows off his stomach and has black hair. One of the ninjas has pink hair and eyes. There's another ninja wearing glasses and has most of their face covered. Another ninja is sitting on top of a large white dog. Another ninja has purple hair in a ponytail. There is another ninja with long brown hair and a blue dress. The last ninja is a muscular dark skinned, has white hair with a goatee, a tattoo on his right arm and is wearing sunglasses. With them is a small dog.

That's a total of fourteen ninja with two dogs. Okay more information stored away. Now I need to learn their names. I'm hoping that I don't get caught.

"Hey you guys found others," the blonde known as Naruto says with a grin.

"You also brought someone else back," says the ninja with the grey defying gravity hair.

"Can you put me down now," I ask softly.

Gaara crouches down and I get off him ignoring the blood dripping down my leg and the pain finally making its presence known. Laura gets off Naruto and I go to stand beside her.

"You have some of the Akatsuki's scent on you," the small dog suddenly says.

My eyes widen in surprise as I look at the dog. "Did he just really speak," I ask making sure I haven't lost my mind.

"You've never seen a talking dog before," he says.

I stare at the dog at little bit more in surprise. Laura starts laughing and I give her a slight playful glare. Looking back at the dog I shake my head.

"I have to say no," I reply. I'm starting to think logic should be thrown out the window when one deals with ninjas.

"You're bleeding," the dog suddenly says.

"Sakura, take Kahlan and heal the rest of her wounds," the busty blonde known as Tsunade orders. It seems that even though we're with another group who are good guys they also have a leader.

"Hai lady Tsunade," says the pink ninja.

I look at the pink ninja Sakura and then to Laura. I know the Konoha ninja are supposedly good, but I still don't want to leave Laura alone with them. Laura seems to know what I'm thinking and offers a smile.

"I'll come with," Laura says continuing to smile and I give a smile back.

"This way," Sakura says and I follow with Laura.

We reach one of the many doors. Sakura holds it open letting Laura and I walk in first. I go sit on the bed with Laura as Sakura closes the door.

"So where are your wounds at," Sakura asks after a moment.

I glance at Laura then back at Sakura. Taking a deep breath, I take off the jeans that I exchanged with my shorts to hide the wound. I sit back down on the bed looking over at Laura. She pouts for a moment and looks away. I look back at Sakura as she walks over. Slowly she removes the bandage. My hands grip the covers tightly as I hiss in pain.

"Laura," Sakura says. "Can you get me a cloth and some warm water?"

"Sure," Laura quickly replies jumping off the bed and soon leaves.

"What happen," Sakura asks as she lets the bandage fall to the floor.

"Stuff," I reply with a shrug as if this happens all the time.

"You can trust us," Sakura says trying to sound comforting.

I let out a force laugh. "I don't trust easily. So far I've had a bad experience dealing with ninjas."

"We're nothing like the Akatsuki," she replies sneering out the Akatsuki's name.

"It doesn't change the fact I don't trust easily," I reply with a yawn. Maybe I'll be able to take a nap soon.

"Back," Laura says walking into the room with Tsunade and the woman with the pig in her arms.

"Welcome back," I say to Laura with a small smile.

She smiles back as she walks over and hands Sakura a bowl that has steam coming out and a cloth. Laura sits back down next to me as Sakura slightly dampens the cloth. She starts wiping the blood off my leg up towards the wound. She cleans of the cloth and gently daps as the wound. I grind my teeth together, clenching the covers tightly closing my eyes from the pain.

"Some of your muscle has been shredded," Sakura suddenly says.

"What caused this injury," Tsunade asks.

Opening my eyes I look at the two of them. I take a glance at Laura then back to Tsunade. "It was a kunai. Kakuzu…stabbed it into my leg then yanking it out with a twist."

"Have they tortured both of you," Tsunade asks as I watch Sakura heal the wound on my leg.

"No," I quickly reply. "I would never allow them to hurt Laura in any way. They only tortured me because I wasn't giving them answers."

"Done," Sakura says standing up. I nod my head in thanks.

"Can you tell me what you know about the Akatsuki," Tsunade asks.

"I could," I reply. "But…." I trail off looking down.

Leader never told me how I should do this spying thing. If I gave out any information about the Akatsuki it can help me gain the trust of these ninjas, so they'll never suspect me as a spy. However, I'm also at the risk of Leader using that as a way of betraying the Akatsuki.

"We won't hurt you," Sakura says.

"Oink," the pig says.

I look over at Laura. She's pouting and not saying anything. I look back at Tsunade. Maybe I can give some small information out. Leader would understand right? I hope so.

"Well, there are a total of ten members," I say. "Only one of them is female. Also, one of the members…I don't think he is a full pledge member because he doesn't wear a ring like the rest of the members."

I fall silent not wanting to give any more information out. In fact I bite on my lower lip and look behind me toward the window. I think of Leader's wrath and let the fear I have of them show on my face as I look back at three ninjas. However, I quickly remove the fear from my face because I know I even have to lie to Laura. If I let that fear stay on she might start questioning.

"You don't have to be scared anymore," Tsunade says.

"You never know," I mumble. "Can…I take a nap; I'm really exhausted?"

"Yes," Tsunade replies after a few seconds. "This is Sakura's and Hinata's room, you'll stay with them."

"Where is Laura staying," I ask sitting up straighter ready to disagree if I don't like the choice.

"With me and Shizune," Tsunade replies.

"Oink," the pig says.

"And Tonton," Tsunade says with a slight smile.

"Who is Shizune," I ask.

"I am," says the woman with the pig as she smiles.

"Is Tonton the pig?"

"Yep," Laura says and smiles.

"Okay…I think I can deal with that," I say after a moment.

"Nothing will happen to you and Laura," Sakura says. "We promise to protect both of you."

"Promises can get broken," I reply.

"You really don't trust people," Sakura says with a small sad look.

"I trust Laura," I reply.

"It's understandable that you don't trust us," Tsunade says. "You'll come to trust us soon enough. We'll let you rest now."

"Sleep well," Laura says as she gives a hug.

"I will," I reply with a small smile hugging her back.

We let go and within moments I'm alone. Yawning, I lie down in the bed pulling the covers over me. I close my eyes to go to sleep, but never do. I think after about fifteen minutes later I sit up with a slight pout. Rellik is back at my grandfather's…my house so I can't use him to sleep with. Argh, what am I going to sleep with? I need something or I won't be able to go to sleep. I'm a cuddler.

Sighing, I get out of the bed and put my pants back on. I look down at the phone and then back at the door. Quietly, I pick up the phone and dial the number to my grandfather's house…my house. For the past five years I always paid the phone bill for the house, because my grandfather's voice was on the answering machine. That way I could call and remember what his voice sounded like.

The phone rings a few times then goes over to the answering machine. "This is Bill Ward," says the voice of my grandfather. "I'm either out in the yard doing work, getting supplies in town or at church. Please leave your name and number after the beep and I'll be sure to call you back. May God bless you with a good day."

I smile sadly as it goes to the beep. I hang the phone up and call back again after a few seconds. It rings for almost a minute but suddenly gets picked up at the last ring.

"Who is this," ask the voice of Leader.

I look at the door as I whisper, "it's me Kahlan."

"So you found a way to communicate back with us that is good," Leader replies.

"I wanted to let you know that there are fourteen of them here," I continue to whisper. "There is Tsunade, Shizune, Sakura, Naruto, Gaara and that is all of the names I have been able to get. They're staying at the Village Inn. So far they are all on the top floor. I don't know much about the situation, but I'll be sure to find out more and when I do I will call."

"Very good," Leader says causing me to make a face. Stupid Akatsuki I really…dislike them with a burning passion close to hate. "Continuously give me updates when you can."

"Yes Leader," I almost sneer out.

"Don't get caught and don't betray us," Leader says then the phone goes dead.

Quietly I put the phone back. Climbing out of bed I walk to the door. Without Rellik or something human-ish shape I won't be able to go to sleep. Gosh I'm going to become insomniac.

Opening the door I walk out. I take the time to look around. The floor is a blue carpet. There are small little tables with vases of pink, white and red roses next to every door.

Walking I go near the staircase. Across from it is the elevator. With a shrug, I get into the elevator and hit number one. Maybe everyone is on the first floor. I'll see what they're talking about and get something to eat. Actually now that I've think about it I've been unable to eat anything since I woke up early this morning. Argh, I'm hungry and tired. Tomorrow I'm sleeping in…if I can ever get back to sleep.

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