A/N: I forgot to post this yesterday...so you get it today instead! Sorry about that!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything!

Enjoy!

The room was dimly lit but that didn't matter to him, it was always dimly lit. He had just finished another training session and was hot and sweaty, he walked slowly to the bathroom that joined his room. He shed his clothes as he went, uncaring as they fell into a messy heap on the floor, he would clean it up after he was done showering. Switching the shower on he stepped inside, his training was going good but what else would you expect from someone like him, he knew the real reason as to why he was being trained. Orochimaru wanted his body and, as he scrubbed off the sweat that coated his body, Sasuke couldn't blame him. He smirked slightly, his body was too good for the likes of Orochimaru, Uchiha Sasuke was no one's pawn. He washed his hair as he reflected on the past three years, he had gotten stronger, much stronger and he longed to test his powers on someone other than the snake sannin.

He stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist, uncaring of the cool temperature in his bedroom or the water droplet running down his body, he had far greater things to think about. Sitting on his bed he pondered on this new development that Orochimaru had told him today.

"Naruto-kun has gone back to Konoha," The snake sannin hissed, waiting in glee for some reaction to Naruto's name only to be disappointed when there was none. "I wonder how strong he has gotten under Jiraiya's tutelage." Ah, that got him the reaction he wanted, Sasuke twitched and Orochimaru gave a hissing laugh.

"I don't care what Naruto is up to," Sasuke said tersely, "I am stronger then him and I always will be. I am done here." He got up to leave, wanting to shower and sleep but Orochimaru stopped him.

"Oh," he began, "so you don't wish to know about this new player on the board?"

"Hn," was his response but his pause was enough to tell Orochimaru that the Uchiha was listening.

"A girl has appeared, rumour has it she appeared out of thin air," He laughed again and he tongue swept across his lips as he thought of the girl, "she travelled with Naruto-kun and Jiraiya."

"I care little for an insignificant girl," Sasuke told him annoyed that his time was being wasted.

"Oh but you should Sasuke-kun," A creepy smile appeared on his face and once again his tongue licked hungrily across his lips, "this little gem has no chakra whatsoever."

"You lie," Sasuke hissed, his sharingan blaring into his teacher, "everyone has chakra, you can't live without chakra."

"Would I like to you Sasuke-kun?"

"Tch!"

"According to my spies this girl wields a unique power that no one but herself understands, they tell me she can things appear out of thin air and fix broken things like lamps with a flick of her wrist." He found enjoyment in the way Sasuke stiffened, clearly unamused at the possibility of someone else more powerful than him.

"I don't care," Sasuke repeated, though this time there was a slight tension in his voice.

"She protects Naruto fiercly," Orochimaru told him, his voice giddy with dark amusement as he finally began to reveal the point of telling Sasuke about the girl.

"Hn," Sasuke watched the snake closely.

"You know what hunts him… or perhaps I should say who…"

"Itachi," Sasuke whispered in cold fury, finally getting what Orochimaru was pointing at.

"I wonder what would happen if Itachi were to try and attack Naruto-kun while in her presence."

He would be the one to kill Itachi, his hands clenched tightly as he elbows rested on his knees, droplets of water moving across his vision as they dripped from his hair, and it was his right to kill his traitor brother. He lived his life for the moment he would finally avenge his clan and no girl was going to take that away from him, no matter how powerful she was, he would get to Itachi first. Still he couldn't help but be curious about the girl, his brother aside, he would like to test his strength against her. He smirked as he came to a realisation, Naruto would never give up trying to find him and bring him back to Konoha and if this girl was as protective as Orochimaru led him to believe then she would no doubt be with him the next time they meet. Anticipation filled his eyes as his smirk deepened, he would look forward to that meeting.

A stray thought moved throughout his mind stopping his previous thoughts dead and he wondered if this girl would be like the other girls he had met. He shuddered, they all disgusted him the way they clung to him as if they deserved to be acknowledged by a member of the Uchiha clan, he would never give so much as a glance to fan girls. He sneered and hoped this girl wouldn't be like that otherwise a battle of strength would be completely pointless and a waste of his precious time.

OoO

"We have more company," Zetsu said, disturbing the silence once again, "The Kyuubi brat and his team this time…along with Chiyo from the sand."

"This time I wanna go," Hidan said practically humming in eagerness.

"No," Pein told him, "the Kyuubi is Itachi's business, he will go and meet with them."

"Damn it, Jashin-sama needs his sacrifice," Hidan implored but was cut off by his partner telling him to shut up.

"Leave behind some of your chakra Itachi."

"I wonder," Zetsu mused out loud, "how Kisame is fairing against his opponent."

No one responded to Zetsu, their own energy focussing on the Shukaku and once again the pained groans of Gaara echoed throughout the room, the more the process completed the more eyes opened on the statue. It wouldn't be long now.

OoO

Water crashed over her, she was unable to dodge it like the others but unlike the others she had magic to help her breath under the water. She cast the bubble head charm causing a bubble of air to surround her and she swam to the top as fast as she could. Breaking through the surface she released the spell and listened to the thankful cries of the team behind her. She tread water as thought about her next move, she couldn't walk on water like shinobi could and this left her at severe disadvantage on this battle field. Looking around she noticed Kisame had disappeared but she didn't have a chance to wonder where he had gone as water exploded upwards sending her crashing back into the rocks.

"Damn this water," she gasped out, unable to breathe properly as the crash knocked the wind out of her. She watched as the others jumped up into the air only to find Kisame at the top, riding a wave and a Gai delivered a kick to him he exploded into water. "A clone huh."

She suddenly became aware of how well the team gelled as Lee sent a flying kick to another Kisame, knocking his sword from his grasp and as the Kiri nin landed Neji struck with a hake kusho attack. Kisame was pushed back the force but kept his balance as he grabbed his sword on its path back down to the ground, he was given little chance to recover though as a spiked ball, curtesy of TenTen bounced of the sword and exploded.

"Neji, where is his location?" TenTen called as they realised Kisame had disappeared again, but Ana never listened to the reply as a light bulb went off in her head. Slowly the green eyed girl stepped forward, a spell leaving her mouth and as she put her foot down on the water it froze. She grinned and with more confidence stepped further out onto the water, each step freezing the water below her. Who needs to walk on water when you can just freeze it?

"What troublesome brats you are," Kisame said as he appeared from the water, "this is so bothersome."

Team Gai attacked again, but this time their teamwork was for naught as Kisame refused to be caught off guard. He swung his sword around with an ease that made it seem light as a feather, blocking all the attacks sent towards him with it. To defeat him they needed to keep the sword away from him.

"We need to remove the sword." TenTen shouted, clearly picking up on the same wavelength that Ana was.

"I can do that," Ana called out and raised her hand to the sword and called out, "accio sword." To the shock of the others, the sword headed straight for her, forcibly ripped from Kisame's hand and into her own outstretched hand. "Now attack him!" She shouted as she tried to keep the heavy sword in he grasp.

"Right!" They all called and as one they moved to attack.

"Mizu bunshin no jutsu." Kisame called as his hands formed the seals and around him four clones appeared and caught each one of Team Gai's attacks before forming more seals with his hands. "Suiro no justsu."

"Well this blows," Ana said as Team Gai became trapped in sphere of dense water.

"And then there was one," Kisame said as he turned to her, his clones controlling the water sphere. Ana gripped his sword tightly, trying to raise it up in defence but gasped and let go of the sword as it suddenly grew sharp and tore into her hands. She raised her hands up to see the damage and as blood poured from her wounds her hands began to tremble in the pain. "You're all better than I thought but still you will end up dying."

Anger seared through her as she clenched her hands and watched each member of Team Gai choking on the water and silently she cast the bubble head charm on them, doing the only thing she could do right now to keep them alive. Her head lowered as she realised that defeating him would be hard, angry tears dripped from her eyes as she realised she wouldn't be able to do it, not while he had the advantage of the battle field.

"Oh are you giving up," he called out to her, mocking her as he watched he shake.

"I believe in you," the hokage's face appeared before her mind's eye, her words echoing around her mind once again giving her comfort as she raised her head, staring at her opponent with deadly eyes.

"I will never give up… I already told you I am a Gryffindor and we defend our friend until the end!" She shouted, "I may not know these guys all that well." She pointed at the members of Team Gai, her magic stirring around her, "but they are my comrades and I would rather die than see them hurt. I will defeat you!"

Her magic roared to life, surrounding her and stirring up the water around her she glared at Kisame, her eyes almost glowing in the rage she felt. Her wand raised and pointed at him she quickly cast a spell and faster than the speed of any jutsu the curse hit him and sent him flying backwards, his arm bleeding profusely from the deep cuts that appeared.

Wide eyed, Kisame got to his feet staring at the girl before him and slowly he laughed, insane and gleefully. He clapped his hands together and formed more seals, "suition: suikodan no jutsu!" He cried out. A large swirling vortex shot into the air before Ana, a large shark shooting out it and breaking over her. Kisame used the distraction to grab his sword and in a powerful swing, he swung it down on the girl.

Ana grabbed her own sword, and blocked the attack but the pressure he put behind the attack was making her crumble such strength, I can't match it she thought desperately as she put her magic into the blade to help relieve some of the pressure. Her eyes widened to an impossible degree as Kisame raised his fist and slammed it down into her stomach, the breath was knocked out of her once again as she was sent down into the depths of the water, her wand and sword slipping from her gasp as she felt the blackness of unconsciousness grasp at the edges of her vision.

Air bubbles left her mouth as the roar of the water filled her ears and her eyes slipped close as she felt her body hit the rocky bottom below her. She felt useless, completely powerless against these shinobi, if she couldn't defeat this one Akatsuki member how could she ever hope to defeat the rest and help Naruto. She was so pathetic, she couldn't save her friends from Voldemort and she couldn't save her friends now. Perhaps she should just give up, allow herself to slip into death's cold embrace.

"They are still fighting you know," the familiar voice rang in her ears and green eyes opened wide and took in the wispy form of her best friend. Hermione she thought as she the ghostly apparition, her best friend smiled at her, waving happily no, you are dead…because of me. "You always did have that attitude…it wasn't your fault, we died protecting the things we love. Don't feel guilty over that."

How can I not? You are my best friend and I let you die.

"That is enough of that, your friends are fighting their hearts out up there and here you are wallowing in your own pity. You were never one to be pitied."

How can they fight when they were captured?

"They had a little help of the ghostly variety," Hermione grinned and smirked at her before looking serious again. "Now are you going to wait here until you die or are you going to get up and show the Akatsuki what the girl-who-lived is made of?"

You never let me lose confidence in myself.

"I'm your best friend, it's my job to kick you up the backside when you lose faith." Hermione smiled and Ana felt her wand press into her hand but not before the bushy haired girl hugged her tight, "Show them just who they are messing with, protect your friends like you always have Ana and know that we all believe in you."

Thank you, Hermione Ana thought as the girl disappeared, gripping her wand tightly she released her magic in a storm of fire. Not even the water around her could affected the cursed fire of the fiendfye spell. Flames circled her and faster than the speed of her firebolt she shot out of the water, her fire roared in her ears but the sound felt good, it sounded like victory. She noticed the bewildered and shocked shouts of Team Gai as they moved out of the way of the fire.

"Never underestimate me," she told Kisame as she grinned at him and her arm shot out towards him, the fire obeying her command swept towards like an angry dragon protecting its hatchlings. She heard the screams coming from him as the fire torched his body and only after the water around them dispersed did she finally release the spell. She collapsed to the floor, holding her stomach as she gave a relieved laugh.

"How did you manage to survive that?" TenTen asked the girl who only laughed harder.

"I had a kick up the backside," she told them, laughing through the pain in her stomach as tears rolled from her eyes.

OoO

"How did it go?" Pein asked once Itachi and Kisame returned.

"It seems training with Jiraiya has made Naruto-kun a bit stronger," was all Itachi said.

"And the girl Kisame?"

"Heh… her name is Ana and she asked me to pass along a message to you all…and though I hate playing messenger I believe we should all take this message to heart." Kisame looked at each member of the Akatsuki, his expression showing his seriousness. "She said that she will rise up and defend those who try to harm her friends…and Itachi this part is for you especially… if we intend to go after the Kyuubi then she will stand in our way and I do believe she threatened to send Itachi to hell and have us burn alongside him."

"Hn," Itachi muttered, his eyes narrowed in thought even as the others laughed.

"You think some little chick is gonna kill me," Hidan roared with laughter, "I will send that little bitch to Jashin-sama."

"Fool," Kisame hissed, his clones memories of the fire made him shudder, "she is unlike anything we have come across and her power is off the charts and completely different. She controls a fire that is different to every other fire out there, it took on a form of its own and she started that fire under my water."

"We will have to watch her," Pein said, wondering what will happen to their plans now. "For now we continue with our mission, you distracted them long enough."

OoO

"Was it wise Tsunade-sama?" Shizune asked once they were alone in the office, her doubt had been nibbling away at her and for once in her life she questioned Tsunade's decisions. "First you send Naruto into the Akatsuki's hands and then you send what could essentially be the most powerful weapon to ever appear after him."

"Ana is not a weapon Shizune."

"No of course not, I didn't mean like that but her magic is a very powerful weapon, if she should fall into enemy hands then…"

"I know," Tsunade said tiredly, she had been worrying about it ever since Ana had left, "but if I hadn't have let her go, she would have gone anyway. Besides… you heard Jiraiya speak of her nightmares, Naruto is the only one able to calm her she is safer with him no matter how much I want her to remain in the village."

"I still think you shouldn't have sent her," Shizune told her honestly.

A knock on the door made Tsunade pause in her reply, frowning at the unexpected disturbance as she called for the person to enter. Tension poured into her as the person slowly shuffled into the room, the last person she wanted to deal with was now standing in her office. "Danzo… what brings you to my office?" her voice was deadly calm though she felt worry blooming within her.

"Tsunade," Danzo said slowly, his slow pace and speech negating his cunning mind, "I hear the Kyuubi brat is back in the village… I merely wished to see how he was fairing."

A sudden fear gripped Tsunade, though it never showed on the outside, because she knew what he was really saying had nothing to do with Naruto at all. He knew about Ana, how she didn't know but now she knew she had to keep her away from Danzo at all costs, he wouldn't be allowed access to Ana's power. Her life just got a lot more complicated.

OoO

Ana sneezed before a pained groan escaped her, she had bruise the size of a Quidditch pitch on her stomach that had been carefully wrapped by TenTen as they stopped for the night, allowing them all some much needed rest before they met up with Team Kakashi and continued on with their mission. She sat with her back against a tree, meditating as the others, except for Neji and Pakkun slept. Meditation was as close to sleep as she was going to get and while it replenished her energy it did nothing to make her feel refreshed.

"Your magic is truly astounding," Neji spoke, breaking the silence between them.

"It can be very beautiful," Ana told him, opening her eyes to watch him, "but it can be destructive too."

"I noticed," Lilac eyes watched the girl curiously, "that fire you created was far greater than even the trademark fire jutsu used by the Uchiha."

"It was fiendfyre," Ana said with a shrug, "cursed fire that is uncontrollable and inextinguishable. It takes a powerful witch or wizard to cast it and remain in control of the flames."

Neji remained quiet after that, his gaze focussing on the forest as he looked around for danger but once again he was drawn back to the strange girl who should have died back there. She was under the water for too long to have survived it but she came back like an avenging goddess.

"What's the deal with your eyes?" She asked him suddenly, startling him as he realised she had caught him staring at her.

"It's a doujutsu," He replied quietly after a while, "called the byakugan, it allows me nearly three hundred and sixty degree vision and I can see the chakra of everyone in my line of sight."

"Sounds handy in a battle," Ana acknowledged, smiling at him, "they are very pretty."

He found himself fighting a blush as she commented on his eyes, he knew that many people found the Hyuuga eyes creepy but not her. He looked away from her, unable to keep her gaze as a rush of warmth filled him and once again he found himself comparing her to Naruto. His ability to make everyone feel special and unique seemed to run through the green-eyed girl as well so it wasn't any wonder that they hit it off so well.

"We should move out," Pakkun told them and they nodded, standing up and waking the others.

They moved out in silence, only the sounds of the nature to break the tense silence. They didn't know what was waiting for them when they arrived at their destination but if it was anything like the battle with Kisame then they were in for a rough ride, at least this time they would have Team Kakashi helping them.

OoO

Where was he? It was bright around him, white and cold. Who was he? He couldn't remember, it was hazy and distant and if he reached out he couldn't grab it. A boy appeared in the stark whiteness, curled up and crying. His hands covered his face, rubbing away the tears but no sound emitted the boy, a kanji symbol marked the boy's forehead the colour of blood the same colour as his hair. Was that him? But this boy seemed so lonely. It emanated from his being like it was alive with its own aura, the boy wanted to be acknowledged. He wanted a friend. He was so alone… comfort was all he needed… someone to smile at him… someone to play with him… he didn't want them to run away scared… he wanted love… love… like the letter on his forehead screamed… please… who was he? The boy disappeared, faded from view and as the white room turned black a thought escaped him why am I so alone?

The bubble holding him in the air broke and lifeless he fell to the ground with a dull thud.

"Good, we finished with time to spare," Pein said as the jutsu was released and all the member of the Akatsuki breathed a sigh of relief. Until the room around them began to shake, "it seems our guests have arrived," Pein looked over at Sasori and Deidara, "the rest of you leave, you two tke care of our guest."

"Aww man, I still don't get no action," Hidan complained before he disappeared as did the others until only Pein, Itachi and Kisame remained.

"Hope you don't mind me stealing your jinchuriki Itachi," Deidara said, laughing slightly before freezing under the glare of the sharingan. "Care to give me some advice about the Kyuubi vessel?"

"Tell him Itachi," Pein said once he realised Itachi wasn't going to answer.

"He's the one who jumps in and barks first." Was all he said before he disappeared.

"Be careful," Kisame said laughing menacingly, "underestimate that girl and she will turn around and bite you in the ass." He disappeared to leaving Pein alone with the other two.

"Keep the jinchuriki alive," He told them seriously before leaving, the statue slowly sinking back into the earth.

"Looks like we get to show off our art ay Sasori-no-dana." Deidara laughed as he took it upon himself to sit upon Gaara's body.

"Don't get cocky."

"Hmm I do wonder though," He said as his hand went into the clay bags and the mouths on them opening to start chewing on the clay, "is the new girl hot? I hope she is… it will give me something to look at before I blow them all to smithereens."

"Fool, you heard what Kisame said, don't underestimate her," Though he would never admit it to Deidara, he too wondered about this girl, if she was as strong as Kisame said she would make an excellent addition to his collection.

OoO

"Man it feels good to stretch," Kisame said as he climbed down from the rocks they had been sitting on, "sitting for three days straight really makes your back ache right Itachi."

Itachi ignored him and began walking, he had other things to think about and new developments to add to his plans. He sighed silently, he was sick of this walking around trying to play the bad guy but this new girl might be helpful. "Ana," he whispered not noticing he said it out loud.

"Huh? You talking about that girl," Kisame frowned as he recalled the fight he had, "she was a pain in the ass."

"Hn," Itachi muttered, knowing if he didn't give some verbal reply then the shark-like man who just ramble on.

"You I reckon her hate for you could give even that brother of yours a run for his money," Kisame laughed heartily and continued rambling on though Itachi was no longer listening.

Give Sasuke a run for his money huh? Perhaps she could but he knew Sasuke would be the one to kill him as he had always intended, Sasuke had to be the one to kill him. This girl though seemed very like Naruto, she clearly valued friendship and loyalty if she was willing to go so far for a jinchuriki. Itachi smiled under the cover of his high collared cloak, this girl combined with the blonde haired idiot would be Sasuke's salvation, he just had to make it happen and give them a shove in the right direction.

OoO

"You're late Kakashi," Gai called, a smile on his face as he realised he had beaten his rival to their meet up point.

"We ran into a little trouble on the way," Kakashi told them as they landed on the water beside them.

"Ana!" Naruto called, his blue eyes zoning in the witch immediately and before she could even blink arms where wrapping around her in a tight hug.

"Hey Naruto, did you miss me?" Ana said with a small smile as the blonde boy nodded eagerly.

"They still have Gaara," he whispered to her, his hands clenching at her back, "we got caught up by Itachi but we can still save him right?"

"Itachi," Ana whispered, a cold fury going through her at the mention of the Uchiha before she answered him, her gaze focussing on the large rock covering the entrance and a horrible feeling entered her gut, "yeah we will save him."

They all looked at the stone, until Kakashi realised it was a five point barrier and Gai was quick to nominate his team to find the other seals and break the barrier. Gai handed out wireless headsets to his team and Kakashi so they knew when to pull the seals off and, after an ear splitting shout from Lee, they set of to the coordinates Neji had given them using his byakugan.

Ana eyed the old lady that was with the group as she stood off to the side, wondering why she was here with them as Naruto stood with his hands clenched and his body shaking in anger. His eyes were red and the whisker marks more pronounced, his teeth were sharper and his hair more wild. Ana's hand reached up and lightly pressed against his back, providing him comfort and telling him it will be okay.

"We will get Gaara back Naruto," she looked over at the rock again, "I promise you it will all be okay."

Naruto didn't respond but she knew he was thankful for the comfort.

"You care for him," Chiyo said as she watched the girl, "a jinchuriki, how-"

"With all due respect mam," Ana said turning to face the older woman, "Naruto is not just a jinchuriki, he is a human being with feelings and emotions. He is not a monster he just houses what you perceive to be a monster. He is my friend and I care for each one of my friends. You and people like you are just bigots, you force the bijuu inside them and then blame and judge them based on that. You all disgust me with your prejudice ways."

"Ana, stop." Naruto said quietly beside her.

"But Naruto it's not fair," tears welled up in her eyes in anger, "it's not fair to you and it's not fair to Gaara. Right now he is in there alone all because the Akatsuki view him as a monster a sub-human being when he isn't. I may not know him but he is the kazekage, he means something to people and they took that away from him. It's just-"

"Never in my life," Chiyo said, cutting across Ana's speech, "I am old and I have seen many things but never I have I seen this. You cry for someone you don't know, for someone not affiliated with you what so ever. I never thought I would see the day that the leaf would cry for the sand." She paused and placed her hand on Ana's shoulder, "you give me courage child. I can face my grandson with this courage."

"Your grandson?"

"Sasori," Chiyo said slowly, "he is one of the ones who took the kazekage."

Kakashi called out at them to be ready and Sakura took position and began to amass chakra into her hand. It was a tense few seconds that seemed like years to those waiting before Kakashi ripped off the seal and Sakura charged forwards. The copy nin jumped from the rock as Sakura punched it causing it the shatter and throw up dust and smaller pieces of rock. While the dust was settling they jumped inside the cave, there bodies tense and ready for action.

A/N: Wow that was hard to write...I hate writing fight scenes...you probably wanted to see Team Kakashi Vs Itachi but I felt the chapter was getting to long to include that fight when it wasn't necessary for the plot. So what did you think of the fight? Did you expect Hermione to appear?

I figured I'd give you a little insight to what's going on with Sasuke and a little bit of Itachi planning something!

Mizu bunshin no jutsu = Water clone justsu

Suiro no justsu = Water prison jutsu

Suition: suikodan no jutsu = Water style: shark bomb jutsu