Before I get on with the story, I want to warn you now: There is going to be a LOT of strong language from here on out. That is why I have rated this M. Just letting you know now, so you don't complain to me later.

Oh, and if you would be so inclined, I would love banners. I like banners, and I would like to put them on my profile.

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Stage Four: Freedom

I walked out if his hotel room, past Temari (who I knew had been straining her ears to listen), and into the street. The sun had begun to set now, it had been that long. I had now kissed Gaara twice to save my own ass. He opened my eyes, though. I couldn't stay here. I had to leave now before I was destroyed like he was. Where was I going to go?

I couldn't go anywhere looking like myself. I fluently made hand-signs and muttered, "transformation jutsu," under my breath. I looked nothing like myself and ten centimeters shorter. My hair was short and brown, with only a maroon streak in the front to remind myself of who I really was. I focused my eyes to be green, but light green. I stood in now, and standing in wasn't my forte.

I sat on a rock outside Gaara's hotel. Two figures came out that I didn't recognize, but what they were wearing struck me. They were Akatsuki members, with straw hats and their black cloaks. Rage built up inside me as I remembered the dreams of my parents' deaths. They could be the sanctuary I was looking for, but would I sacrifice my honour?

They had passed me by now. I picked up a small pebble and threw it at the back of the shorter one's head. It hit it's target, and the man turned around to see who threw it. "Take me with you," I demanded.

I heard the other one say, "just kill her. We don't need to be slowed down."

"I know what you're after and I can help you get to it," I muttered. A smirk came across my face. "You're here for a reason. You go back empty handed, and what's to happen to you?"

"You know nothing about Naruto," the shorter man responded.

"But I do know of another demon He seeks."

The man I had struck asked, "Who seeks this demon?"

"The Orange Haired one," I answered. He was the face I had seen in my dreams. "He looks for a girl, does he not?"

The man I hit walked toward my rock. He touched the purple strand of hair. "If it's answers you're looking for, go back to Suna." He pulled his hat off, revealing his Sharingan eyes. It was Itachi. He took the bell off his hat and handed it to me, ringing it first. A smile touched his lips before he turned back to his partner, returning his hat to hide his red eyes and black hair.

I looked at the bell. It was beaded in shades of black and blue. I didn't know what it was supposed to mean, nor why he smiled at me. How did he know I was from Suna? Did he really see through my disguise? Could the Sharingan see through Genjutsu?

I pondered what he had said, because he didn't seem to mean me any harm. Should I go home after seven years? I don't even know if I would remember how to get there. Orochimaru would expect to find me there, but a week in hiding wouldn't hurt, right? It wouldn't take me long to search the house for answers. I crammed the bell into the pocket of my black skirt in frustration.

"Tsuki!" Sasuke called.

I immediately looked up at him, expecting him to talk to me. He walked past without a second glance. He was looking for me, but couldn't see that I was right here. I watched him run off without saying anything. Neji followed Sasuke, but he looked at me, knowingly.

"Hiding from something?" he asked.

I looked at him in surprise. "Does Genjutsu fool anyone anymore?"

"Byakugan can see chakura. Yours has a more purple hue than blue. You stand out, no matter what you look like," he answered.

I sighed.

"So what are you hiding from?" he asked

So this is Neji Huuga. He cares, but doesn't. I remember the way he barked at me on the Third Training Field. "More of a who," I answered. I saw myself in his ways.

"Alright then, who are you hiding from?"

"I couldn't tell you if I wanted to," I answered.

"Why not?" he asked.

"It would make me a traitor to this village." I took out my Sound head band. "If you think hard enough, you'll find the answer." I handed the purple fabric to him. "Burn this for me, as I won't be going back."

His eyes grew wide as he looked at the symbol. "Orochimaru, he's here?"

I got up from the rock and left him there. "Burn it, Neji. Burn it and know that I warned you. I tried to do some good, though it's not enough for redemption."

He took my hand before I could get too far. "I can't let you walk away, Tsuki."

I turned around and hugged him. "I don't ask much, Neji. Just let me leave and find the answers for myself."

He didn't move, he didn't embrace me back, and he didn't say anything for a while. He let go of my hand and finally said, "I hope you find what you're looking for."

"Thanks, Neji."

*****

I ventured to the border of the River Country, where forest met rocky soil and mountains. I remembered the mountains vaguely, mostly because I had to cross them in darkness the first time I came through. I didn't remember which pass I took, because I was looking at them backwards.

I had to ask for directions, but no one was clear enough for me to understand them at all. I was starting to get annoyed again. I decided just to scale the mountains and see for my self just where Suna was. By the time I would get there, the exams would be over and Kankuro would be waiting to chew me out!

I sighed as I faced the Granite cliffs. I began the ascending climb to the peaks, where the oxygen levels were low. Each passing mountain watched me closely, as if it were mocking my impatience to find a path. I would lose my mind up here if I wasn't careful.

Once at the top, I looked out at the desert below me. I couldn't tell which way Suna was, but I had the strong feeling I was too far north. I wound my way down and went south in accordance to the sun's path. If I could remember right, there was a star you could follow to get to Suna from any point in these mountains. But which one was it? You could die in the deserts if you weren't careful.

The rock turned to fine sand in the matter of a mile from the base of the mountain range. I went south here, knowing that there was a road going into the Ninja Village some forty leagues away. How long would it take me to walk seventy miles?

*****

One week exactly. Orochimaru had done what he came to Konohagakure to do, the Sand Siblings were retracing my steps to get here, and Sasuke was faced with a conundrum. It was a week after scaling the mountains when I turned up at the gates in my leaf head band, and I was stopped immediately before the gates closed for the night. I rolled my eyes as the guard held me in a little room with a couple chairs and a small desk until he could get a hold of an ANBU Black Op. The man looked at me for a long time, asked me one question, "What is your purpose here?" which I answered with, "To find answers." He scribbled the words onto a clip board and walked out of the room, only to return with another Black Op. I rolled my eyes again.

"You're not getting anywhere," I told them.

They looked at me and began whispering something that I couldn't hear. I cursed this body, as it lacked the cat like advantages I was born with. If I remained how I was, I could hear their conversation with ease, along with anything that might be going on outside.

"I should be able to visit any time I want to, I was born here!" I shouted at them.

They looked at me. "Are you in the records?" one asked.

"Well, I should be! I even attended the academy for a year."

"Surname?" the other asked.

"Dentsu," I answered.

He disappeared for a while. The other one surveyed me with skepticism. "The Dentsu clan has died out years ago."

"I am aware of this," I hissed at him. "That's why I'm here. It left questions unanswered."

"In the ruined house? Good luck. Possessions are all that's in there. Everyone looked for something that would give the Akatsuki reason to kill them. Nothing was found."

"That's not what I came to find," I answered. "I already know why we were sought."

"Care to tell us?"

"Not really," I answered. "It's not your concern. They're not going to look for me here." Orochimaru is the one they should worry about.

The other man came in with the file. "The only Dentsu that wasn't found dead." He looked at me and smirked. "She looks nothing like the child."

"Give me a minute," I asked. I released the jutsu and sighed as I returned to my normal body, cat like senses and all. "Better?"

They looked like they had seen a ghost. I picked up the file the man had thrown on the desk. I took the pen from the first man's clipboard and filled in a few stats: Affiliation: Leaf Village; Rank: Chunin; Height: 160 Centimeters; Weight: 56.7 Kilograms. I then threw the folder back on the desk and walked out of the little room, flicking the pen at the Black Op's forehead. I heard the dull thud of the pen hit the floor as I turned the corner.

I walked down the western main road, which led to the two different compounds and the small living quarters for wealthier people who didn't belong to a huge clan. That was where I was going. Memories of my childhood played before my eyes, which was remarkable. I never remember anything, but the laughter of my sister filled my ears along side my mother telling us to settle down before Father got home. A tear escaped; they were ghosts of the past now. I would never see any of them again. I turned onto the side street that led away from the compounds and into the quarters.

Darkness had really settled now, but I managed to see the overgrown rose bush that marked our house. I was amazed it had survived all these years with no help from Mother to keep it alive. I pushed open the door, which creaked in protest in it's track. A cobweb broke and was fluttering in the breeze.

I stepped into the hallway which was scattered with dead flowers that were turning to powder with age. I saw the painting of the rosebush that always hung above the small table in the main hallway and broke down. It was shredded, barely recognizable in the gloom. Mother had spent three days perfecting it. I had helped paint the pink petals. On the table below it, candles were knocked over, sliced in half, or destroyed. All of it was covered in dust.

I tore my eyes from the painting and wandered into the side hallway, toward the bedrooms. From my memory, blood had once covered the walls. It had been cleaned up since I was here last. I pushed open my parents' room, not knowing what to expect. The bed was made and dusty, the dresser was closed. That was quickly changed.

I pulled each drawer open, not knowing what I should find. Clothing, mostly. Letters were hidden in my mom's top drawer. I took the envelope in my hands; the ink was faded. It read HIDAN. I did not know who this Hidan person was, but if Mother thought he was important, he must be.

I ripped open the letter and quickly read through it, wondering what she might have to tell someone other than Father. I got to her signature and dropped the paper; it was a letter of guardianship. I had a god father! Instead of being happy, I decided that if I were ever to meet this Hidan person, I would rip out his throat. One, for being kept a secret from the family and two, for not trying to find me after my family died.

I turned to Father's side of the dresser, but found nothing but old assignments and mission papers. He wasn't that secretive of a man. "Itachi, what answers am I supposed to find here?" I cried into the night.

I ventured into my Sister's room, wondering if she had anything. She was eight at the time of her demise, a mere two years older than me. I looked around at her frilly room of pink lace and stuffed animals. Her vanity was barren, nothing hidden in the drawers but a pen that didn't work anymore. I tore open her favorite stuffed animal, but there was nothing inside it. I shredded her least favorite, but only a junk toy ring fell out. No doubt the one some boy gave her at the academy. She hated that kid, and I never knew why. I couldn't even tell you his name.

I visited my room: a dark and gloomy place that was bare all except for a panda bear that sat on my bed, watching me. I picked up the bear and hugged it, smelling the musk of age in its matted fur. Fur that was matted with my childhood tears. He was my only friend as a child. I took the bell out of my pocket and stared at it. "What does this mean?"

I studied the bell. There was one just like it on my old glass doll, but I didn't see the doll anywhere. My mother gave me that doll.

The surge of memories astounded me as I searched for more clues to my past. I have often thought that my past would lead me to my future. Maybe, like Sasuke, I'm destined for revenge. Maybe I should destroy the Akatsuki for killing my family. I would have purpose again, other than to be Orochimaru's forever. Then I thought of Gaara for the first time since venturing into his village. What if I were to give this love thing a chance? Maybe destiny is something I have to take a hold of and make for myself.

The front door slammed in and my heart sped up. I didn't know who was in the front hallway, or if it was a person at all, until I heard heartless laughter. Chills ran down my spine for the first time in my life: I knew that laugh. It was him, and he was back.

"Here kitty kitty!" he called. "I know you've come home! Come out and play."

I drew a Kunai, but if he carried the same weapon from years ago, then I didn't stand a chance with it. I had to rely on my strength, training, and my demonic chakura. I have yet to meet an opponent I couldn't defeat, but I haven't ever had to fight him.

I heard every door in the house slide open with a slam. Mine was the last one he opened. He saw me, stanced for a fight. "Hm, You're not going to get very far," he laughed. He was wearing the same cloak as Itachi, although the hat was missing. "Drop it, Bitch. I can't fight you."

I threw the Kunai at him, but he swatted it away. "You just won't listen to me, will you?"

"Why should I? You killed my family."

He chuckled. "You should have seen the look on your face before you ran off. Where did you go, anyway?" he provoked. He took a step toward me, backing me into a wall.

"Why does it matter, you're just going to kill me."

"Dammit, didn't you listen to me? I said I can't fight you. Bitch, please, my orders are to take you in alive. Minimal damage," he added in a mocking tone.

"I'd rather you just kill me," I hissed.

"You and me both," he agreed. He ran a hand over the three bladed scythe.

The image of my mother's flesh being shredded in between the blades ran through my mind over and over again, echoed by her ringing screams of terror.

"Why my family?" I asked, desperate to delay him.

"Two reasons. One, we know what you are, and two, I needed to prove no tie was worth breaking my oath to the Akatsuki. Your precious mother was the only person left who had a connection to me."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" I asked. "If she was so close to you, how come you were never around? Where were you all those years, if she was so important?"

"Your father pushed me away when the marriage was arranged. You have much to learn, Bitch." He slapped me across my face, just as Orochimaru had done. And just as I did with Sensei, no sound escaped me, nor did I flinch. He did it again when he didn't get a reaction.

"No matter how many times you hit me, I'm not going to cringe."

"Either you enjoy the pain, or you've been someone else's bitch for far too long. You never told me where you went."

"The same place I came from," I answered, pointing to my headband.

"No, you weren't there. We looked. Try again, Bitch."

I was really getting tired of being called Bitch. "If my answer doesn't suite you, ask Orochimaru for his," I spat.

The man before me laughed, filling the room with sadistic melodies that sounded just like horror movies. "I'm going to have fun with you. Oh, yes I am." He grabbed my wrist and tapped my forehead, leaving me in darkness.