Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
"You have sent messengers to Ame, Taki and Kusa, am I correct?" Mamoru said, a thought striking him.
"Yes," Naruto said. "Why?"
"If they sent a squad in advance, will they encounter the trouble that we did?" Usagi wondered. Naruto's eyes widened.
"Sayuri, Tsukiyomi and Yuki – go back to the gate and escort any visitors from those villages here," he ordered. He was obeyed.
"And now, we wait," Mikoto muttered.
Chapter 31 – Amegakure
The six Jounin/ANBU quickly made their way out of the village and headed to the border they shared with Amegakure. Arisu was still quiet, mourning the loss of her sister as she had been when they had lived together back in Kirigakure. Her companions left her alone – none of them were prone to idle chatter on a mission anyway and they had all been filled in on the situation surrounding her and her sister by Hana and Taiki while they had waited for Naruto to assign them their missions.
The silence was only broken when Kakashi activated his famed Raikiri and blocked the path of his daughter and Taiki.
"How long?" he demanded. Hana looked suitably confused as she stared at the jutsu. Arisu and Tomoko stopped to observe while Anko joined her husband, forming seals that they didn't recognise. When neither Hana or Taiki answered, Anko used Sen'eijashu, targeting the male. Eyes wide with realisation he attempted to dodge, all the while knowing that it was futile – the snakes moved faster than he did. Less than a foot from him the snakes froze, encased in ice. Arisu had also worked out what was going on and had used her kekkei genkai to protect her teammates from the parental wrath.
"Don't insult our intelligence, Hatake Hana," Kakashi said sternly, Raikiri still active and threatening. "You thought that your mother and I wouldn't notice?" Finally realising that they were referring to her relationship with Taiki, Hana looked down.
"A year," she said.
"WHAT?" Kakashi exploded, readying his jutsu. "And you were planning on telling us when?"
"When she had faith that you would act a little more maturely about it," Arisu cut in before her teammates could reply. "But apparently you haven't matured enough yet."
Kakashi turned on her violently but she just encased him in ice, sending a warning glance to Anko who backed down slightly.
"Hana's eighteen – old enough to be in charge of her own life. She's also a Jounin and a member of the ANBU Black Ops, so perhaps you should stop treating her like a child? You've got Mia for that!" she continued, referring to Hana's younger sister.
"Also," Tomoko cut in unexpectedly. "We're on a mission that may well save the village and get rid of one of our most dangerous enemies. We don't have time to bicker like children. Stop being over-protective, you two, and in future choose a more appropriate time to have your family quarrels!"
Kakashi and Anko looked somewhat sheepish at being spoken too as if they were freshly-graduated Genin and looked down, releasing their jutsu as they did.
"Are we done?" Arisu said, removing the ice and stalking off without waiting for a reply. Properly chastised, Kakashi and Anko nodded and followed her, sending apologetic glances to Hana and Taiki.
They arrived at Amegakure by nightfall, showing the shinobi at the gates their ID and requesting an audience with the leader of the village. Oboro no Amegakure was the name of the ninja that escorted them, a ninja that was known to Kakashi and Anko as the father of one of the Chunin from the most recent Jounin exam. As they arrived at the leader's abode, Arisu caught a glimpse of three very familiar ninja standing in the shadows. To her surprise, Tadashi nodded at her in acknowledgement as she passed – a gesture she returned.
As they entered the building, they were greeted by none other than Konan no Tenshi no Amegakure.
"Welcome," she said, gesturing for them to sit. "What brings six of Konohagakure's finest to Amegakure?"
"I'm not going to beat about the bush," Kakashi said. "Akatsuki have conquered three of the major shinobi nations and Konoha is their next target, in order to claim the Kyuubi – the last of the free tailed beasts."
"And you've come to ask for aid," Konan completed. The Konoha ninja nodded.
"Akatsuki are a powerful organisation, perhaps even more so now than they used to be, despite the reduction in number," she mused. At the confused looks of the younger ninjas, she elaborated. "I used to be a member – no, not just a member, a leader – of the Akatsuki many years ago before Madara stopped hiding in the shadows and Naruto convinced Pein and myself that we were fighting for the wrong reasons.
"Did you know Amegakure used to be the headquarters of Akatsuki?" she asked. Only Kakashi and Anko nodded. "Pein would rule from within his tower – one that I have since had destroyed – and I was the Angel that delivered his word to the citizens. As you see, even now I have not rid myself of the title Tenshi, although I am led to believe that it is now a title of endearment, not of fear. Since the death of Pein, I have worked to rid this village of all affliction with Akatsuki and hope that I have finally succeeded. The village is now more welcoming to outsiders and, now, we are being asked to assist against the organisation we once founded and housed.
"But you're not interested in my past, are you? Aside from whatever information I can give about the current members although I feel that I am not necessarily the best person for the job. Uchiha Itachi knows much, and you my dear-" here she looked at Arisu "-know the new leader better than anyone else. But I will tell what I can.
"Uchiha Madara; that is the name he first used when introducing himself, later Tobi when he did not want to be known. But I am not certain that he is who he says he is, although I think that fear now drives him to keep his true identity hidden, for fear of his young protégé finding that he has lied to her. Hoshigaki Kisame is a man of few words unless in the heat of battle. He was always a follower, not a leader, but Uchiha Itachi will know better than I. Zetsu is an interesting case. He is never far from Uchiha Madara and leaps to do his bidding unquestioningly. Alone of the original members, I do not know from whence he originated, but I do know that his unique abilities make him invaluable to whomever has his loyalty, that is – Madara. Orochimaru is now little more than a slave of the organisation and his abilities are waning with age. Of the other members I know very little. Osutin Ruiizu is an interesting case, as is Yanafu. Both so young, and yet so powerful."
Her account finished, she turned and beckoned to Megumi, who had entered while she had been speaking.
"I will send aid to you, never fear. Akatsuki is wrong and I had no small part to play in its creation and must atone for this somehow. It will take me some time, however, to secure my village from invasion – we are no power like that of the great shinobi nations – so I can only send those I can spare now. Once the village is secure the main force will join you. In the meantime, here is my daughter, Megumi. She and her teammates will accompany you back in the morning as my promise and as a gesture of goodwill." The blue-haired beauty smiled at them before leaving to inform the rest of her team. "Now, it is too late to travel now so will you accept my invitation to stay the night as my personal guests?"
The Konoha ninja readily agreed and Konan had Oboro escort Kakashi and Taiki to a room, while she personally escorted the females to another room.
"Please," she said. "Make yourselves at home." With that she left them to ponder her words.
They left at daybreak the next day, eager to return to Konoha as soon as possible. Konan saw them off personally, although she showed no real attention to her daughter. Once the village was out of sight Tadashi turned to the other ninja.
"What has happened so far?" he asked. Tomoko took it upon herself to recount the happenings in Konoha as of late, touching briefly on both Kohaku's betrayal and the invasions of Konoha in her explanation. When she mentioned the injury of both Itachis all three Ame ninja were shocked.
"How powerful are Akatsuki if just their lackeys can take down two of your villages most renowned shinobi?" Koushi asked in amazement, remembering the younger Itachi's prowess in the Jounin exams.
"The lackeys in question are all dead," Tomoko informed him. "One of our ANBU squads saw to that – this one in fact," she added, gesturing to Arisu, Hana and Taiki. "Needless to say, Itachi, Itachi, Sasuke and Suigetsu are all in capable hands and I have no doubts that they will be fit to fight before the war is over."
"I enjoyed taking them down," Arisu said. "They deserved it." Tadashi didn't look like he disagreed.
As they crossed the border back into Hi no Kuni Kakashi held up a fist and they all stopped, looking around, as Hana activated her Sharingan.
"Come on out!" she demanded, looking towards a densely-packed area of trees. There was a rustling and two females emerged, holding their hands up in a gesture of peace.
"Are you Konoha ninja?" the older woman asked, her red eyes resting on the Ame nins.
"What if we are?" Anko demanded. The females took this as a yes.
"Do you know Daddy?" the younger girl asked, barely a teenager by the looks of her. "Apparently he's in Konoha now."
"You'll have to be more specific than that, kiddo," Hana said.
"Shush, Sukeyla," the woman said. "We don't know that they're who they say they are."
"They are!" Sukeyla retorted. "Mummy told me so." Instinctively the ninja looked around for the third person. "Mummy's in here," she clarified, pointing to her head.
"Her mother died in childbirth," the woman said. "But instead of passing on, she appears to have sealed her soul within Sukeyla."
"And her father?" Kakashi asked, inspecting the girl. The woman pretended not to hear him.
"I am Mibu Kikyo," she said, inclining her head. "It is a pleasure to meet you. You must be Hatake Kakashi, am I correct?" Kakashi stared at her evenly.
"Sukeyla's father?" he asked again. Kikyo sighed and looked around before replying.
"Uchiha Itachi," she confessed quietly. At the ninja's puzzled looks she continued. "He kept her a secret from everyone so that no-one could use her against him. Those of us here are the only ones that know the identity of her father."
Now armed with the information, they could see the similarities. Sukeyla had the same dark hair, tied in a low ponytail to keep it out of the way – just like her father. Aware of them watching her, she grinned and let her eyes morph from a soft lavender to the unforgiving red of the Sharingan.
"So, what do you want?" Anko asked.
"We heard that you are getting ready to fight Akatsuki," Kikyo said. "We'd like to offer our help."
"I want to see Daddy!" Sukeyla proclaimed.
The allied ninja looked at each other.
"We need all the help we can get," Tomoko pointed out.
"Yes, but…" Anko said.
"Are you really going to keep Itachi separate from his daughter?" Arisu asked disbelievingly. "If they betray us, I'll kill them personally." Kakashi nodded thoughtfully.
"We're better off with a Sharingan allied to us, not against us," he agreed before turning to Kikyo and Sukeyla. "We'll accept your help," he said. "But if you betray us it'll be the last thing you ever do."
"That sounds fair," Kikyo acknowledged.
"Shall we, then?" Arisu said, heading off. "This way." She led the way back to Konoha and it wasn't long before the gates were in sight.
"Daddy's in there?" Sukeyla asked.
"Yes," Tomoko said, before remembering his condition. "He's just been in a fight with Akatsuki," she warned. Her companions looked at her, then realised that warning their new additions was probably a good thing.
"She means he's injured," Arisu cut in, not one to sugar-coat her words.
"Mummy says that Daddy's fine," Sukeyla argued. The Konoha ninja sighed. They had tried to warn them.
They entered the gates to be greeted by Yuki, Tsukiyomi and Sayuri.
"This way," Sayuri said.
"We're under direct orders from the Hokage to take you straight too him," Yuki added while Tsukiyomi nodded.
"Then lead the way," Hana said. To their surprise, they were not led to the Hokage Tower, but rather to the Uchiha Mansion where they saw the Genin that had been sent to Suna lounging around outside.
"That was quick," Kakashi commented. "Do we have Suna's support?"
"You do," Mamoru told him, walking towards them. The Chuunin and Jounin from the recent exam acknowledged each other. "My father is currently gathering our forces to come to your aid."
"Kakashi!" Naruto called, having noticed them.
"Hokage-sama," Megumi said, taking the lead as the daughter of Ame's leader. "My mother also pledges her allegiance and will be here with as many ninja as she can spare as soon as she has secured our village."
"Naruto is fine," the Hokage told her. He spotted Kikyo and Sukeyla.
"Who are these two? I don't recognise them."
"Hokage-sama-"
"Naruto," he corrected Kikyo.
"Naruto, then. Sukeyla and I encountered your ninja on our way here to offer our help in the upcoming battle," she explained.
"Who are you allied with?" Naruto asked.
"No-one," Kikyo admitted. "I fled from Amegakure in my youth, when Akatsuki still held some influence, and Sukeyla's father left her in my care when her mother died."
"Where's Daddy?" Sukeyla asked. "Mummy says he's here."
"Her father is Itachi," Arisu said, noticing Naruto's confusion. "They claim, anyway. She has the Sharingan."
"Another Uchiha?" Naruto laughed. "They're springing up all over the place, aren't they? Well, the only way to know for certain is to ask Itachi himself. Come on in," he led the ninja into the main room, where Itachi was lying on a sofa.
"We have the support of Amegakure," he announced to the room, gaining the attention of everyone. "And some other people as well," he indicated for Kikyo and Sukeyla to step forwards and they did.
"Kikyo? Sukeyla?" Itachi asked form his position on the sofa. "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you," Sukeyla said, running to him and giving him a hug.
"And offering our support against Akatsuki, now that you're no longer a member," Kikyo added, taking in his weakened appearance, with Sukeyla either hadn't noticed or was ignoring.
"Uncle?" Mikoto asked. "Who are they?" He smiled.
"May I introduce you to my good friend Mibu Kikyo, and my daughter Uchiha Sukeyla?" he asked, a twinkle in his eye as his family understood what he was implying.
"I have a cousin?" Tani squealed. She ran to Sukeyla and inspected her. "Hi! I'm Uchiha Tani. How old are you?"
"Thirteen," Sukeyla answered, smiling at her younger cousin.
"That makes you older than me," Tani sulked. "I'll show you around, if you want?" Sukeyla accepted and the two girls ran off.
"When did you plan on telling us?" Sasuke asked his brother, amused.
"Once Akatsuki are defeated and it's safe to admit her existence," Itachi replied. It was a logical answer and his family knew it.
"She's not used to children of her own age," Kikyo said. "It's a good thing she has a cousin of similar age."
"And the older ones to keep her in line," the younger Itachi smirked. Mikoto sighed.
"I guess this means I have another younger sister to train, doesn't it?" Her uncle smiled, glad that his nieces and nephew had accepted her daughter into their family.
Sasuke turned to the Ame ninja.
"We've set up some accommodation for you," he said. "If you'll come with me then I'll show you." They accepted and he led them outside.
"Sukeyla is of course welcome to live here," Sakura said to Kikyo. "It's up to you if you'd like to stay here with us or have your own accommodation.
"May I stay, at least until Sukeyla's settled in?" she replied. "I won't intrude on you for too long, but I'd like to make sure she's alright with the new atmosphere. We've lived a nomadic life so she isn't used to settling in one place." Sakura smiled before going to prepare rooms for them.
"That's an alliance from two villages," Naruto said. "Can you three go back to the gate and await any more allies?" he asked Sayuri, Yuki and Tsukiyomi. They nodded and left.
"Konan was kind enough to give us some information on the remaining Akatsuki members," Kakashi said.
"Let's hear it, then," Naruto said. "She may know things Itachi didn't."
Kakashi and Anko took it in turns to recount what she had said while Tomoko left to check up on Suigetsu and the members of her Genin team that had gone to Suna.
Once the information had been recounted, Itachi spoke up.
"She's right that I probably knew Kisame best – between myself and Suigetsu you know a lot about him. As for Madara, I don't like her hints that he isn't actually Madara but it wouldn't surprise me if it was another person who somehow managed to get their hands on a Sharingan."
"Well the only thing we can really do now is wait for replies from Taki and Kusa, and the main forces of whoever allies themselves to us for this war," Mikoto observed.
And that's all for now guys. Sorry it's so short compared to some of my other ones, I wanted to post this as it's been, gosh 2 years and 9 months since I last updated? I am so sorry about that. Hopefully the next update won't be anywhere near as long a wait, although this story is still on somewhat of a hiatus, although I've taken that off the summary. Uni work does have to take precedence, unfortunately, and according to a poll that's just closed, this is only my third most popular ongoing story so I should really give the popular one some thought, too.
Also, I know you don't want to hear this when I've just updated again after a ridiculously long wait, but in case you hadn't guessed we are now in the final arc of this story and there will be another 9 chapters until it is complete. However, that doesn't mean that I am done with this universe, or these characters. There is a prequel in the works and a vague idea for a sequel in the back of my mind, but I'll release more details once I've finished this story.
Thanks for reading (and for waiting)!
Tsari