Second Time's The Charm

by Reader06

Tobirama knew bringing back the dead was possible. He knew that anything was possible in the ninja world. That didn't mean, however, that he ever believed in reincarnation. But here he was, with a new family and a ragtag group of friends, in a village he barely recognized, facing the same demons as before. Would he ever find some peace and quiet?

40. Second Time's The Charm - Shippuden 3

Author's Note: I made a goof last chapter. Kanoko is four centimeters taller than Naruto. Not inches. She's the same height as Shikamaru. I don't know what I was typing…

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Age Eight

Kanoko leaned back in her father's office chair as she pondered over the problem before her. On top of the desk was a book on the biology of chakra in the human body.

"There has to be a safe way of doing this. I can't possibly have been the first to come up with such a technique." Kanoko thought to herself, thinking about the chakra stealing seal she was in the process of creating. Kanoko closed her eyes in annoyance, "Perhaps that is the problem. The youth these days are so reckless and severely lack a proper understanding of the basics." Kanoko felt her annoyance start to boil as she thought about the academy she was forced into attending.

The young Nara shook her head, "No crying over spilt milk now. I have more pressing concerns at the moment…" Kanoko leaned forward and started making notes on a paper for later testing when she was pulled from her thoughts by the yelling of her new mother.

"Kanoko!"

The former Hokage sighed internally before slowly looking up, "In Tou-san's office, Kaa-san."

A head peeked around the corner and blinked at Kanoko's hunched over form. Shaking her head, blaming her husband in her head for such strange kids, Yoshino called out to her daughter, "Kanoko honey, have you seen your brother?"

Kanoko shook her head and followed up with, "I have not since breakfast."

Yoshino gave Kanoko a narrow-eyed look, "Didn't I ask you to look after your brother today, since he was so adamant that he get to go the park today?"

Kanoko stilled, quickly running through her memory banks. Staring blankly at Yoshino, Kanoko tentatively spoke, "I thought you were talking to Tou-san?"

Yoshino raised an eyebrow and drawled out, "Because I often call my husband the name I gave my daughter."

Kanoko resisted letting her eye twitch in annoyance as she thought, "And Yoshino wonders where Shikamaru gets his sharp and sarcastic tongue from…" Sighing in defeat, Kanoko hopped off the office chair and started towards the door – ignoring her mother's smug look.

On the other side of the front door, Kanoko took a quick look back and grumbled before walking forward towards town.

"Back in my day, children Shikamaru's age were armed and already fighting for their clan! A little alone time in the safest village in the Land of FIre is nothing in comparison." Kanoko grumbled in her head as she moved closer to the village's children's park. Kanoko's dull brown eyes stared ahead as she pushed through the trees, "Why couldn't I have been reborn an only child? Didn't I suffer enough with enough insane brothers to last a couple lifetimes?!"

Walking past the last tree, the park full of small children came into view. Kanoko's eyes lazily moved through the area for a certain spiky ponytail, "At least this one's quieter, I suppose…" Kanoko thought, thinking about her previous loudmouth of a brother, before her eye started twitching, "When it's not trying to strangle me to death…"

Kanoko let her train of thought trail off as she continued to look back and forth – her eyes unable to find any sign of her twin. Walking forward into the madness, Kanoko started looking around all the objects in the park, thinking Shikamaru was taking a nap – per usual – in a place the other kids wouldn't disturb him.

After several minutes of searching, Kanoko was frustrated to find that there was absolutely zero trace of her brother. Whipping her head around, with her frustration growing, Kanoko reached out and grabbed a passing Naruto by the back of his collar – making him cry out as he was unexpectedly yanked back.

"What's the big idea?!" Naruto shouted at Kanoko as he fumbled around to get out of Kanoko's death grip.

Kanoko ignored Naruto's attempts to escape and calmly, but firmly, asked the boy where her brother was.

Naruto huffed and crossed his arms, "How the hell should I know?!" Naruto stuck his tongue out at Kanoko and continued, "And I wouldn't tell you even if I did!"

Kanoko's brown eyes narrowed. Pulling the blonde in close, Kanoko towered over him as she spoke evenly, "Was. My Brother. Here. Today." Kanoko leaked out some of her negative chakra for added effect.

Naruto just scoffed in her face again, completely unfazed by the negative chakra, "I ain't no snitch!"

Kanoko felt her eye start to twitch uncontrollably as she thought, "This… child! Damn the Uzumakis for procreating… There's not a single one among them that hasn't sought to drive me crazy!"

Forcing herself to calm down, Kanoko let Naruto go with a cold look.

Naruto blinked in surprise as he fell, not expecting Kanoko to let him go so easily. Grumbling as he stood up, dusting himself off as he did, he looked up at the taller Nara to give him a piece of his mind when he was stopped by a fist to the face.

"AHHH!" Naruto called out, holding his face, "What was that for?!"

Kanoko crossed her arms and looked down her nose at the blonde, "Are you going to tell me what I want to know or…"

Naruto quickly scooted backwards, not wanting to get hit for a second time by the boiling female in front of him. Nodding his head vigorously, Naruto quickly spit out, "He was with Chouji! They went towards the forest with some other kids!" Naruto paused to grumbled, "I wasn't invited…"

Kanoko raised an eyebrow, "There's forest everywhere. You'll have to be more specific."

Naruto blinked before looking around and thinking for a moment. Settling on a thought, Naruto pointed east, "I'm pretty sure they went that way."

Kanoko grumbled lightly at Naruto's unassured statement before starting to walk in the direction.

"Hey! Aren't you going to thank me?!" Naruto called out at Kanoko's back.

Kanoko resisted rolling her eyes and continued on her path without a pause in her step, "Just as loud and annoying as Masako… If she hadn't married a Nara I would have sworn he was a direct descendant of hers…"

Stepping into the woods, Kanoko started cursing lowly, "This is ridiculous. The brat could be anywhere in here!" The former Hokage tried to push out her chakra to try to locate her twin, but found her range still too far limited. Pausing in her step, Kanoko grumbled lightly, "Where are you Shikamaru…"

"Come on! What are you, scaaared~?"

Kanoko perked up at the noise of a child she didn't recognize right away.

"Yeah! You just going to leave your friend down there?! Haha! Poor fatty! Not even his friend will help him out!"

Kanoko pinched the bridge of her noise. Sighing heavily, Kanoko pushed through the last of the trees to see four children standing over her brother, who was hunched over a small cliff, looking down at where Kanoko supposed Chouji was.

Walking closer to the scene, Kanoko took a look at the four children and identified them immediately.

All of them were children two grades above Kanoko and her classmates.

The two smallest ones were twins like her and her brother. Both were a part of the Hyuuga Clan – children of a main branch member: Yuki and Yahiko – sons of Hyuuga Toshiro, a very unpleasant man. With the typical long dark hair with pale eyes, they could blend with any other Hyuuga, but among their own clan… They were easily recognized and avoided like the plague. Even if the two weren't conniving little devils that pulled "pranks" that even Naruto would think were cruel, the fear of angering their father alone was enough to keep the branch members silent and afraid.

The bulky monster of a child was Sarutobi Taro. Some say he is the result of an Akimichi and a Sarutobi while others speculate that he's actually four years older than he claims because he's too stupid to pass the academy's pathetic standards. Having met the boy on more than one occasion, she believes the latter.

And last… the bane of her existence since she was reborn into the Nara Clan – among several others really – was the mastermind behind the group's wicked ways: Nara Kuro. As the name would suggest, he is the ninth son of a family twelve. Despite being from a large, caring family, the boy was nothing but pure evil – at least if you asked the former Hokage.

Nara Kuro was prim and proper in every way that matter. He was the smartest among his family members, which was quite the feat in a Nara family, and had such a grand understanding of human nature and clan politics that Kanoko had suspicions at first if he was like her.

The idea was dismissed as he became an increasing annoyance to the former Senju.

Kanoko quickly learned of Kuro's aspirations to become a leader in the clan and the village, and had seen her as a stepping stone. Treating her especially nice – particularly in front of the adults – was her first clue that this boy was going to be a problem. Kanoko was not ignorant to what game he was playing and when she heard of the clan's interest in arranging a marriage between them…

Kanoko's exact words to her parents were that she would "murder the small child before adulthood if such a thought was entertained, again".

Yoshino just laughed and gushed over her daughter's strong independent way and told her friend the next day that Kanoko was not on the market for any arranged marriages because she needed to focus on becoming the next Hokage – something that the clan's female population was largely supportive of.

However, this information only served to anger Kuro – who had never had one of his plans fail before.

Which is likely why her brother and his friend had suddenly become the target of Kuro and his group of demon children.

"Kuro!" Kanoko called out with a touch of authority in her voice.

Shikamaru whirled his head around to see his sister standing by the trees with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Quickly moving to his feet, he pointed down the cliff, "Kanoko! They pushed Chouji down the cliff! I can't get to him!"

Kanoko's frown deepened as she felt worry start to flutter up. Chouji was her brother's best friend and honestly one of the kindest souls she had ever met. Quickly running over, Kanoko looked over the side of the cliff and let out a breath of relief. There was a ledge not far from the top and Chouji looked uninjured, but definitely scared.

Turning her head to the other Nara boy, Kanoko gave him a dirty look, "Just what excuse have you come up with this time?"

Kuro looked back with a smug smirk, "I have no idea what you are talking about. My friends and I were simply playing ninja with Chouji and Shikamaru when Chouji lost his footing when Taro tagged him. Poor boy fell off the cliff."

Kanoko's eyes narrowed, "And you haven't helped him up because?"

Yahiko giggled to his brother and spoke loud enough to him for everyone to hear, including Chouji, "He's too fat to pull up by ourselves!"

Yuki giggled back and smirked, "Haha, yeah! It'd take five men and a pulley system to get him out!"

Kanoko took a peek down at Chouji to see him curl into himself.

"Shut up!" Shikamaru growled at them, surprising Kanoko. Shikamaru's fists curled as his teeth gritted together, "And you're lying! Chouji and I were out here looking for…" Shikamaru went quiet and pink before continuing, "It doesn't matter! You guys are the ones that followed us out here and when you tried to push me off the cliff, Chouji got in the way and took the hit for me!"

Kanoko blinked at her brother, a mix between surprised at the passion in his voice and surprised that things had gotten so bad that they were threatening her brother. Kanoko's eyes quickly sharpened and started to turn red as they landed on the four boys in front of her.

Shikamaru apparently wasn't finished because he kept going, "And the only fat person here is the ten-year-old retard who still wets the bed!"

Kanoko's eyebrows shot up as Taro went beet red from embarrassment. The large boy started to sputter out an excuse before quickly turning to anger and charging straight for Shikamaru.

"YOU LITTLE SHIT!" Taro shouted with his fist in the air.

Shikamaru went pale as he shut his eyes to take the hit – knowing he was too weak to take on the elder child.

Kanoko quickly intervened and grabbed Taro's wrist – spinning him around and slamming him to the ground with his arm twisted painfully behind his back. The boy tried to squirm under her, but Kanoko knew the boy couldn't use his chakra properly and used her own chakra to keep him in place. Grumbling internally in annoyance, Kanoko carefully knocked the squirming boy out.

Taro immediately relaxed and passed out, allowing Kanoko to get up from the boy and give Kuro and his minions a threatening look. Deepening her voice, Kanoko spoke, "I grow tired of your games Kuro, and I will not allow such actions against my brother go unpunished."

Kuro scoffed as he crossed his arms, "I'm hardly afraid of a little girl, even one such as yourself, Kanoko. What are you going to do, cry to your daddy?" Kuro finished with a smirk.

Kanoko gave the boy a cold and indifferent look, "You think far too highly of me, Kuro. I am not above ruining another's life – be it through violence or diplomacy – if it means protecting my own. I do not take threats lightly." Kanoko took a step towards the dark haired boy making him squirm slightly, "And your very existence continues to threaten not only my family, but my sanity."

Kuro frowned for a moment before a sly smirk grew on his face. Taking a step forward until the two were only inches from each other, Kuro locked eyes with Kanoko, "You're nothing but spoiled little puppy that has a big dog's bark. Other people might see you as this great and strong force, and the women of the clan might see you as the clan's next great leader, but we both know that you're going to end up as nothing but a trophy for the clan and its next head to parade around."

Kuro leaned back with a smug smirk at Kanoko's silence and laughed arrogantly at her, "Just accept your fate! All you'll ever amount to is being some man's barefoot and pregnant wench–"

Kuro didn't get to finish his statement as he was socked hard in the jaw by a seething Shikamaru.

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Tsunade sighed as the heads of Konoha's departments and her own personal staff walked out the room. Turning around in her chair, Tsunade got up to look out at the horizon. Her brown eyes traveled over the houses as her frown deepened.

"Well… I guess there's no turning back now."

Tsunade turned her head around to see a familiar silver haired jounin, "Kakashi. You're late."

Kakashi looked sheepish as he rubbed the back of his head, "Well, you see… there was this cat…"

Tsunade sighed heavily and wave her hand with frustration, "I'm too sober to deal with you right now…"

Kakashi opened his mouth to ask what the Hokage called him in for when the doors burst opened. Both occupants turned towards the door to see a panting Aburame Shino with Torune standing just behind him.

Tsunade's expression turned serious as she waved them in. The two made it into the room and Torune shut the doors behind them before using a jutsu to seal the room.

Kakashi watched Shino as he approached the Hokage's desk. Kakashi took a moment to look over the boy, wondering if he was injured. Besides being a fellow Leaf shinobi, the boy was also a good friend to his students and Kakashi knew firsthand how important friends were. The young man seemed unscathed, but it was difficult to know for sure – with the large trench coat covering his entire body making the inspection difficult.

"Report." The Hokage told the younger Aburame.

Shino turned his head slightly to the side – in Kakashi's direction.

Kakashi shrugged and looked to Tsunade. The Fifth Hokage sighed and nodded, "Go on."

Shino nodded slowly before speaking in a deep voice, "We do not have as much time as earlier intelligence reported. Why? Because the targets are already enroute to the Sand Village – one group of two."

Tsunade hissed out a curse.

Kakashi gave Shino a worried look, "How were you able to verify your information? These are not simple shinobi, but S-ranked criminals from the great nations. Surely they spotted you."

Torune turned to Kakashi, "The Aburame Clan works with several insects, but Shino is special. An Aburame must cultivate insects in order to use them in various ways – like gaining the loyalty of a dog by raising it from birth. Shino, through the use of select bugs he has trained specifically for this, is able to communicate and use several types of insects that he did not go through the effort of cultivating - like earning the loyalty of a stray dog in a matter of seconds. Shino likely used the existing insects in the area to spy. The enemy would be unable to tell the difference between the existing insects which ones were being used and which weren't."

Shino nodded slightly, "It is as my brother says."

Torune smiled lightly at Shino.

"How far were they from the Sand village?" Tsunade asked, cutting in – having already been aware of the young Aburame's skill.

Shino turned back to the Hokage, "Three, four days tops."

Kakashi sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging as he turned his exhausted eyes to his Hokage, "That's not enough time to put our plans in effect."

Tsunade clicked her teeth in frustration before stomping around her desk and towards the door, "It will have to be enough. We don't have another hand to play here." Tsunade pulled the doors open with a great amount of force, making the door screech loudly, before hollering out into the hallway, "BRING ME A MESSENGER BIRD!"

The chunin in the hallway raced out of the area at the command. Tsunade turned back to Torune, "Get me the department heads! All of them!"

Torune nodded before flickering away.

The Senju heiress moved her brown eyes to Kakashi, "Gather the rookie twelve and their senseis." Tsunade paused for a moment, her frown deepening, "Send Nara Kanoko to her father. He will assign her mission."

Kakashi frowned but nodded at his Hokage before disappearing away as well.

Shino looked to Tsunade and waited patiently for her command.

Tsunade stared at the young boy for a moment before deciding on a thought, "Did you recognize these shinobi?"

Shino nodded, "Only one and only from the bingo books: Deidara of the Stone Village. The other I did not recognize."

Tsunade nodded before looking towards the windows in her office, "Help Kakashi." Tsunade followed up her statement with an annoyed sigh, "Kami knows what those brats are up to."

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"NaaaaaaruuuuuuuuTOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"AHHHH! SAKURA-CHAN! It was an accident!"

Shikamaru and his teammates walked up to the scene of an angry pinkette with ice cream dripping off her top punching the daylights out of a cowering Naruto. They were a little off the main road leading to the heart of Konoha, standing next to an ice cream cart.

Shikamaru sighed tiredly, his eyes staring blandly at the pair as Ino walked over to tease Sakura on her outfit while Chouji made a beeline for the ice cream cart. Kanoko turned her head slightly to look over at her brother, her arms crossed and a small smirk on her face.

Dropping his shoulders, Shikamaru asked, "How does he always manage to get himself in these situations?"

Kanoko shrugged with an amused look on her face, "If you couldn't figure it out after being attached to the hip for two and a half years, the rest of us have no luck in trying to figure it out." Kanoko turned her orange eyes back to the scene before her, "The plan was to get some ice cream…" Kanoko uncurled a hand to point at the vender – a young man with a pretty face – who was currently being flirted with by Shikamaru's blonde teammate, "Sakura did the same thing your teammate is currently doing – causing Naruto to get jealous and show up the boy." Kanoko's smirk widened, "Naruto never did have greatest awareness of his surroundings… Knocked all the ice cream Sakura was getting for us all over her outfit."

Shikamaru chuckled lowly, more in response to his sister's amusement than the situation. Taking a minute to look over his sister, Shikamaru asked, "You're in a good mood today."

Kanoko raised an eyebrow before pausing and speaking slowly, "I suppose I am." Kanoko looked back at her teammates with a small smirk, "I suppose I am happy to have my team back together again." Kanoko's smirk twitched up as she gave Shikamaru a side look, "I'm happy to have my annoying, lazy, ungrateful brother back too."

Shikamaru gave Kanoko an annoyed look before giving her a serious look.

Kanoko felt the change in her brother's demeanor and her expression turned neutral, "What is it?"

Shikamaru turned his eyes lazily to the group ahead of them before turning back to Kanoko with a knowing look. Kanoko nodded and turned to her teammates and called out, "Naruto, Sakura, go on without me. Shikamaru and I will catch up in a moment."

Naruto gave the two a curious look while Sakura shrugged, "I got to go clean up anyways." Sakura gave Naruto a sharp look which caused the blonde to flinch, "No way I'm showing up covered in ice cream! Kakashi-sensei's bad enough when we don't give him material to work with!"

Ino turned from the uncomfortable looking merchant to the pinkette, "Oh, you guys are meeting up with your sensei?"

Sakura nodded, "Yeah. Why do you ask?"

Chouji answered for his teammate as he finished his ice cream, "We got a message to meet your sensei at the Hokage's tower. We were just heading there when we saw you."

Naruto turned to Kanoko and Shikamaru with a serious look, "Kakashi's message to us didn't make it sound like it was anything out of the normal. We just thought it was a normal team meeting."

Kanoko nodded, "Agreed." Looking from her brother to her teammates, Kanoko spoke again, "Go meet up with Kakashi-sensei. Shikamaru and I will be there in a moment."

Sakura looked to Naruto with a worried look, which he returned with a serious look of his own before turning back to Kanoko and nodding. Ino and Chouji also took a moment to give their teammate a concerned look before leaving with Naruto and Sakura for the Hokage's tower.

Watching her teammates walk out of sight, Kanoko turned back to her brother and spoke, "What is going on?"

Shikamaru gave his sister a grave look, "Tou-san was relaxing at home on his day off, when Torune came out of nowhere and the two left in a rush. Not long after I received the message from Kakashi's summoned dog to gather my team and meet up at the Hokage's tower."

Kanoko frowned, "Why didn't you want to say that in front of our teammates? They will know what this is all about in a moment – not that I'm sure what is even going on."

Shikamaru looked away from his sister's face with a nervous twitch, "I… may have looked through a few of his things…"

Kanoko crossed his arms and gave him a stern look.

Shikamaru snorted as he shrugged, "Yeah, yeah, I know. It's not like you've never done it."

Kanoko ignored his accusation and didn't let up her look, "Continue…"

Shikamaru sighed, "I saw some sketches of that place in Suna we took our Chunin Exams in – the Demon Desert outpost." Shikamaru frowned, "I also saw some markings with your name in the middle of what looked to be a battlefield."

Kanoko frowned before shifting her eyes around, "We shouldn't be speaking about this out here." Kanoko looked back to her brother with an unreadable expression, "And we can't keep our teams waiting."

Kanoko turned in the direction of the Hokage's tower when she was stopped by a hand gripping her upper arm. Turning back, Kanoko eyed the hand and then her brother.

Shikamaru gave his sister a serious look, "I heard what you did for me, with the Hyuuga Clan, when Naruto and I were gone. You shouldn't have done it."

Kanoko's eyes narrowed slightly, "What does that have anything to do with our conversation now or the situation at hand?"

Shikamaru didn't let up, "Because you keep making the same mistakes over and over again, and I'm asking you to stop."

Kanoko's lips thinned, "Choosing to protect your family isn't a mistake. It's an obligation."

Shikamaru paused, caught slightly off guard by Kanoko's wording, before speaking, "Then call it my obligation to stop you from getting yourself killed by taking on more than you can chew." Shikamaru's eyes locked onto his sister's orange ones, "Even if you didn't have a family to lean back on – which you most certainly do – you have your team, your sensei, and all our other friends to rely on. We're not twelve year old rookie shinobi anymore. We've grown up. You need to start trusting us."

Kanoko stared back at her brother with an unreadable expression – completely void of emotion. The two stood like that for what felt like forever until Kanoko placed her free hand on her brother's clamped around her arm and gently pulled it from her arm – her gaze never leaving her brother's.

With one last look, Kanoko turned from her brother and started walking away.

Shikamaru watched with half lidded eyes as his sister walked away from him, her long hair blowing gently in the wind. Sighing internally, Shikamaru closed his eyes for a moment before slowly followed after her – a bad feeling forming in the pit of his stomach.

A really bad feeling.

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"We haven't had enough time to get the word out about the treaty." Inoichi told his friend as they walked down the hall of the Hokage's tower.

Shikaku frowned at his friend, "And all my best shinobi are out on other missions that I can't just pull them from…" Shikaku's tired eyes sharpened as they pushed through the door leading to the Hokage's office, "Let's just hope Leopard has a few ANBU available…" Shikaku sighed heavily, "Otherwise… I'm not sure how we'll pull this off."

Inoichi frowned, "Maybe it's best we call the whole thing off."

"That is not an option."

The two clan heads looked up to see their Hokage sitting at her desk with a large frown on her face and her eyes sharp. The powerful woman spoke again, this time looking over to her old teammate, "We can't continue to ignore this organization and it can be almost guaranteed that war will be on doorstep if we allow the Sand to fall."

The ANBU commander entered the room with a Body Flicker Jutsu. Bowing politely to the Hokage, he spoke, "Reporting as requested."

Inoichi walked over to Ibiki, who looked as happy as always, nodding politely to the Hokage as he did so. Shikaku watched his friend walk away and decided to occupy the spot next to Jiraiya.

Tsunade nodded as she looked around the room, noting that the rest of the department heads were present, "Now that everyone's here. Let's get started…"

The doors opened again with three people entering this time.

"I think you forgot to invite us, Hokage-sama." Danzo told Tsunade with a haunting tone. Behind him, Koharu and Homura stood with their own disapproving looks. The three entered the room completely before taking a spot near the front.

Tsunade stopped herself from grumbling loudly. Looking at the members present, she spoke, "I've just received a credible report that the Akatsuki are making their move. They are three to four days away from Suna." Tsunade turned to Shikaku, "As far as we know, there are only two Akatsuki members. One was identified as Deidara of the Stone while the other is still an unknown."

Shikaku gave his Hokage a grave look, "Deidara of the Stone, huh?" The Jounin Commander paused a moment before telling Tsunade, "We haven't had enough time to gather everyone needed from their respective missions. Hatake Kakashi and Maito Gai are the only jounin I don't have on missions right now – or aren't critical to Konoha's operations. Between the mass amount of missions we have undertaken and a recent boom in pregnant kunoichi, I'm afraid to say that our elite shinobi pool is getting smaller by the day." Shikaku looked over to the ANBU Commander.

The man understood Shikaku's unspoken question and answered, "I have two I can spare, but I imagine you were already going to recruit those two."

Shikaku frowned, but did not speak.

Jiraiya looked around nervously, "Seriously? That's all we got? A couple jounin and a couple ANBU Black Ops?" Jiraiya looked bewildered at Tsunade, "Don't tell me you're sending the kids to do this!"

Tsunade folded her hands on her lap as she leaned back, "What other choice do I have? I can't send shinobi like you or I, or it would smell like a trap. We can't send too many shinobi either for that same reason. This is a very delicate mission – in more ways than one."

"Which is why you should forego the whole idea and simply assist the Sand after the fallout." Homura told the Hokage with a frown on his face.

Koharu nodded, "I agree. This whole plan relies on too many factors – the worst being the heavy reliance on an inexperienced and unpredictable kunoichi to keep someone as important as the Kazekage safe."

Shikaku's eyes sharpened slightly on the elderly pair and told them in a deep tone, "As much as I am opposed to my daughter partaking in such a dangerous mission, she is more qualified than anyone in this room to complete a mission of this nature."

Homura scoffed, "Of course you would say that. You insult your intelligence by making a fool of yourself in front of your peers with your bias."

Inoichi growled lowly at the man for insulting his friend, but held his tongue – knowing his friend could hold his own.

Shikaku raised an eyebrow, "I apologize Mitokado-san. I was unaware that you could use advance fuinjutsu once only known by Konoha's second and fourth Hokages. Can you also bend shadows to your will – ensnaring any enemy that treads too closely?"

Homura glowered at the Nara clan head and was about to spit back a response when Danzo cut him off, "I am in agreement that if we continue with this plan, Nara Kanoko is more than capable of completing her mission." Danzo turned his head slightly towards the ANBU Commander, "I have heard that the Nara continues to outperform all those her senior in both efficiency and protocol."

The masked man nodded, "It is as if she understands what the Second Hokage created the ANBU Black Ops for and continues to strive towards that goal. She is my only operative who continually passes Inoichi's mental evaluation with flying colors to date."

Inoichi frowned and crossed his arms as he mumbled under his breath, "Only because the girl is more cryptic than her father on a good day… Damn Naras…"

Ibiki stopped himself from chuckling – remembering all the times the young Nara would walk out of his boss's office with a bland look, only to be followed by a pissed off Inoichi enroute to his old teammate's office.

Danzo nodded at the ANBU Commander before turning back to the Hokage, "As I said, the problem here is not the Nara child, but the other resources assigned to this mission." Danzo's eye sharpened, "I suspect you will place the tailed beast container on this mission as well – against all forms of common sense."

Tsunade's teeth gritted dangerously, "His name is Naruto, and yes. I am."

Koharu looked aghast, "Lady Tsunade! You can't be serious! This will play right into their hands!"

Jiraiya looked a little nervous as well, but willed himself to calm down. As much as he grew attached to the kid – the both of them – over the last couple years, he also knew Naruto had a strength in him that could overcome any challenge placed before him – and with Shikamaru by his side, the kid wouldn't let the blonde get himself killed.

"Enough!" Tsunade bellowed out, standing up and slamming her hands on her desk – letting some of her chakra out for presence, "I've already selected those that will be assigned this mission! There will be no more debate! What I need from you all now is for each and every one of you to play your part!" Tsunade's turned her harsh brown eyes on Ibiki and Inoichi, "Get the word out in any way possible. Speak with Jiraiya for more ideas and recommendations. I want this to be believable! The whole plan relies on the Akatsuki believing this meeting to be real and not a trap."

Inoichi and Ibiki nodded before looking at each other, already planning on which prisoners to use or spies to exploit.

Tsunade shifted to the ANBU Commander, "Leopard, I need one more ANBU out of you – someone to watch the situation and report back to Konoha immediately if things turn array."

The masked man opened his mouth to tell the Hokage that he did not have any to spare that met those requirements when Danzo popped up again, "Hokage-sama, I have such shinobi under my wing. One that can remain cool under pressure, monitor the situation, and report quickly without leaving the battlefield."

Tsunade's frown deepened as she thought over the old man's too good to be true offer. Her eyes narrowed, "This either comes with strings or will bite me in the ass." Shifting her eyes to her ANBU Commander, who shook his head at her – letting her know that he had nothing to offer her – Tsunade turned back to Danzo, "Have your shinobi report to Hatake Kakashi."

Danzo nodded with an unreadable expression.

Carefully moving her gaze from the bandaged elder, Tsunade looked over to Shikaku, "I have Kakashi rounding up the shinobi selected for this mission as we speak. This will report to me for orders, but I have told him to send Kanoko straight to you. I will be placing Kakashi as mission leader, but Kanoko will have full discretion over her own mission. She will act independently of the group."

Shikaku nodded.

Having nothing else to add, Tsunade dismissed the group from her office, "You are all dismissed!"

And with a poof a smoke, several of them disappeared while the older shinobi simply walked out of the office.

Sitting back down in her chair, Tsunade sighed heavily. Shizune came over from her place behind her teacher and placed a hand on her shoulder, "You don't have a choice. This is the best decision you could have made." Shizune looked over her shoulder to Torune and gave him a concerned look, "I just hope everyone makes it back ok…"

Tsunade lifted her head to look up at Shizune with a serious expression, "Which is why you are going."

"Huh?" Shizune asked bewildered.

Tsunade gave her student a serious look, "This is probably one of the most unpredictable and dangerous missions we have ever willingly sent chunin on. Sakura will not be enough and Ino and Hinata will be primary offensive fighters in this battle. They will not have time or spare chakra to spend on healing others." Tsunade sighed heavily again, "I would like to send more, but it's not normally protocol to send more than a couple medics out on a diplomatic mission. Sending too many could tip them off."

Shizune nodded, "I understand. I will not let you down!"

Tsunade smirked while Torune smiled softly from behind.

"Good." Tsunade told her ex-student.

.

---

.

.

Naruto sat with his legs crossed and his chin resting on his hand – looking incredibly board. They were sitting in the hall of the Hokage's tower, near the entrance to the Mission Assignment room. Taking a look over the area, Naruto's face scrunched up into a frown. Leaning against the wall across from Naruto was Sasuke – looking like a stuck up jerk per usual in Naruto's opinion. Next to him and sitting on the ground, leaning against the large Akamaru was Kiba – looking tired and about to fall asleep – with Chouji on the other side of Akamaru – also leaning against him. Naruto briefly wondered if Team Kurenai just got back from a mission as Hinata looked tired as well, as she tried to keep up the conversation she was having with the other kunoichi.

Sakura, Ino, Hinata and Tenten were all off to the side, creating a small circle in which they conversed about several topics Naruto gave up trying to keep up with. Though, he did regret not paying better attention when Ino and Tenten giggled and pointed at him before watching Hinata snap her head away – her face flushing into a deep red as the girls continued to giggle.

Naruto's gaze continued through the hallway. Everyone from the academy was here – even Shino. Lee was standing by Neji, talking to him in what he dubbed his "quiet voice" – which wasn't very quiet. The Hyuuga didn't look as annoyed as normal, which surprised Naruto.

According to Sakura, Neji had really changed over the last couple of years. He was a jounin, just like Sasuke and Kanoko, and had been forced to work on his communication skills when he showed interest in the open ambassador positions Konoha had created just after the Cloud incident nearly three years ago. After becoming a chunin, he requested to be placed in the foreign relations department to be trained as a future ambassador.

Also according to Sakura, Tsunade had given Neji a stern talk about the position and his intentions going into the line of work. She wanted to make sure he had Konoha's best interests at heart and was not doing this solely to stick it to the Hyuuga Clan. Sakura didn't share all the details, but Tsunade did grant Neji's request and almost two years later, he was one of the Leaf's better representatives.

Naruto paused in thought to think, "I never asked how the Hyuuga Clan took it…" Naruto's eyes moved from Neji to Hinata, "They seem to be on good terms… He was polite and courteous to her earlier when they entered together…"

Looking up at Shino who was standing next to Naruto, Naruto spoke, "Hey, I thought you were on a mission."

Shino turned his head slowly and slightly down towards Naruto, "I was."

Naruto gave him an annoyed look, "And?"

Shino turned his head up again, "And that is all."

Naruto grumbled lowly before turning his attention to the figure walking down the hall towards them. Lifting his head, Naruto called out, "Oi! Shikamaru!" Blue eyes scanned around the pineapple head before asking, "Where's Kanoko?"

The other shinobi in the hall perked up at the Naras' names and looked equally curious of Shikamaru's answer.

Shikamaru shrugged, "One of the shinobi at the front told her tou-san was looking for her."

Naruto frowned, "Didn't she tell him that she had to meet up with Kakashi-sensei?"

Shikamaru opened his mouth to respond but shut it when his lazy eyes traveled passed the blonde shinobi. Naruto blinked at his friend's reaction and turned around to see his sensei in question.

"Yo." Kakashi told them with his normal laid back tone. Scanning the area with his eye, he spoke, "Looks like everyone is here… Good." Looking to Shino, Kakashi nodded, "Thank you for your assistance."

Shino nodded before disappearing in a flash of smoke.

Naruto stared at the space Shino once occupied before snapping his eyes to his sensei, "Wait! Sensei! Kanoko was told to go meet up with her-"

"Father?" Kakashi finished for Naruto before nodding, "I am aware. Kanoko will meet up with us after the Hokage briefs all of you on your mission."

All eyes were on Kakashi – waiting impatiently for more information on what was going on and why they were all needed on the same mission. Just as Naruto was about to ask another question, the door opened. Shizune peaked her head out and smiled slightly at everyone in the hallway, "Good! You all are here! We don't have much time, so please make your way in quickly."

Everyone nodded in various ways as they filed into the Hokage's office.

Tsunade looked up from her notes to watch everyone line up in front of her. Nodding to Shizune, the brunette closed the door behind them and made a hand sign.

Neji's pale eyes narrowed slightly, "A silencing jutsu…" Looking over to Sasuke – the only other jounin in the room – Neji wondered, "What is going on here…"

Tsunade took a moment to eye all the young shinobi before her as she folded her hands on her desk. Leaning forward, she spoke in a deep tone, "Each of you have been selected for a mission of great importance. I will not lie to you, this mission is at the very least a high level A ranked mission and could turn into a S-ranked mission. The failure of this mission has a high chance of starting a war as well. And due to our limited resources, poor timing and the sensitivity of this mission, the support and resources provided to you will be small."

Tsunade paused, her tone firm as she spoke, "With the understanding that you may not come back from this mission or suffer life altering injuries, are you willing to accept this mission? Once you have accepted this task there will be take-backs. You will continue the mission or be punished for abandoning a mission without proper reason. If you do not wish to take on this dangerous mission, I and everyone here understands and will not think less of you for it. There is strength in understanding your limitations."

Shikamaru frowned before speaking, "Before we accept or decline, can you tell us more about this mission? Where is it or what the possible threats are?"

Tsunade shook her head, "No. I cannot."

The teenagers looked at each other, looking for some sort of sibilance of support or wisdom. Chouji and Ino looked to Sakura who shook her head – having no knowledge of what her teacher was planning on assigning to them.

Taking a step forward, Neji bowed slightly before speaking clearly, "I accept these terms."

Lee and Tenten looked at each other before nodding firmly at one and another and stepping forward, "I accept as well!" The two spoke – Lee three times louder than Tenten.

Sasuke eyed the three of them carefully before turning back to the Hokage.

Tsunade smirked lightly before speaking, "Your captain already gave me rights over you, Uchiha."

Sasuke snorted as he looked away – slightly annoyed and wondering why he decided to join the ANBU in the first place, "Because I don't like people telling me what to do and Kanoko told me not to."

Groaning loudly, Kiba whined at his teammate, "Seriously man? We just got back from a week long, exhausting mission and you decide to drag us into this crap!" Kiba gave Sasuke an annoyed look and mumbled, "Some friend you are."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, "No one said you had to join."

Kiba grinned with a fang show and bark out, "Nah, Team Kurenai is an all or nothing deal!" Kiba looked over to Hinata and grinned widely, "Right Hinata?"

Hinata smiled confidently and nodded, "Yep!"

Sasuke shrugged and looked away – not willing to show his happiness on their loyalty.

Ino looked around her and sighed, "Well, if everyone else is going we aren't going to be left behind!" Ino followed up her statement with a fist in the air.

Sakura grinned at her friend and seconded her motion, "Yeah!" Turning back to the Hokage, Sakura nodded confidently, "I won't let you down Shishou!"

Chouji shook his head at his blonde teammate and turned to Shikamaru with a calm smile, "We can't let Ino go out on her own – our fathers would kill us." Chouji chuckled lowly, "If Ino's doesn't get his hands on us first… Or our mothers for that matter!"

Shikamaru sighed, thinking about his own mother and how she would likely beat his head in with a wooden spoon with his father shaking his head in disappointment in the background. Signing loudly Shikamaru nodded in agreement, "Troublesome… But you're right." Shikamaru's lazy eyes traveled to his left, landing on a certain blonde, "However… I'd like to hear what Naruto has to say."

Everyone in the room looked over to the oddly silent Uzumaki. When Naruto noticed all eyes were on him, he frowned slightly before crossing his arms and locking eyes with Tsunade.

Shizune was taken aback. She had never seen such a serious and firm look from the young blonde – his blue eyes felt like they could freeze over an open flame. Opening her mouth to ask Naruto what was wrong, she stopped when Tsunade lifted a hand.

Setting her hand back on her desk, Tsunade spoke deeply to Naruto, "I'm surprised Naruto. I thought you would be the first to volunteer."

Naruto's firm look twitched into a frown. Wiping the emotion from his face again, Naruto spoke in an even tone, "I'm not the naïve kid I once was." Naruto frowned again as he uncrossed his arms, "And I've seen enough of what pervy sage does to know S-ranked missions aren't intense missions full of adventure and excitement. It's full of death and destruction – for both sides." Naruto crossed his arms again, "If I'm going to accept this mission…" Naruto looked back at his friends, "…And let you put my friends and family in danger then I'm going to need more information."

Tsunade's brown eyes narrow, "I don't think you understand how this works-"

"Actually Shishou…" Sakura tentatively spoke up, cutting off her teacher and Hokage, "According to the official rules regarding assignment of missions outside of times of war, which were crafted and instituted during the First's reign, all shinobi reserve the right to inquire the following details of any mission proposed to them, regardless of rank." Sakura paused for a moment to look around the room, "The first is location – where is the mission taking place? The second is mission type – assassination, infiltration, protection detail, manual labor, etc. And the last is those already assigned, or proposed to be assigned. The only exception to the last rule is ANBU. Only the code name of the ANBU assigned will be given."

Ino blinked at her friend, completely taken back. Sputtering for a second, Ino gasped out, "Where do you store all that?! I mean, your forehead is big, but it's not that big!"

Sakura raised her fist with an angry huff, "My foreheads not that big, Ino –PIG!"

Tsunade cleared her throat loudly to break up the fight before speaking serious, "I'm not sure where you're getting your information-"

"She's right though." Shikamaru said with a shrug before yawning out his explanation, "Tou-san made sure Kanoko and I knew all the official and widely accepted rules of mission assignment. While there is a widely accepted rule that when your superior says it's need to know only, you typically accept it as is. However, it's not an official rule and the current, binding one gives Leaf shinobi the freedom to ask more questions."

Tsunade paused for a moment, caught off guard and no longer feeling too certain in her statement, "I have never heard of such a rule." Tsunade's eyes drifted off slightly, "But we were always in war when I was still in the Leaf. I imagine there was a lot of things the village's combined monarchy did under the claim of "wartime exceptions" that were not legal. Or ethical…"

Instead of forcing her assistant to go look up the rule and waste time, Tsunade leaned back in her chair and folded her hands on her lap. Taking a hard look at the blonde in front of her, Tsunade spoke confidently, "Neither the Leaf nor the Sand has the luxury of time to argue about such a rule, true or not."

Naruto and Shikamaru's eyebrow twitched upwards at the inclusion of the Sand village.

Tsunade continued without a pause, "So I am going to take a leap of faith and tell you your mission. Whether you have accepted or not after is up to you and I will not hold it against you if you chose not to partake." Tsunade closed her eyes and spoke, "But I will not hold back anything either. If even one of you don't accept, this mission will fail before it has even begun."

"We understand." Neji spoke up from the back of the room.

Everyone else in the room slowly nodded in agreement, prompting Tsunade to start.

"I'll start from the beginning. For many years now, the Leaf has been tracking the movements of an exclusive group of powerful shinobi that seemingly appeared out of nowhere. The ultimate goal or driving force behind this group is unknown, but there are a few things we do know. The first is that the group as no loyalty to any of the great nations or smaller countries. The second is that those that we have identified as members are S-ranked missing nin from various shinobi villages. The third is that they take missions from other villages that either benefits them monetarily or disrupts the peace between the nations."

Sasuke was the first to speak, "You're talking about the Akatsuki."

The room fell silent. Sakura turned her worried eyes towards Naruto, making him blink in confusion. Shikamaru quickly picked up on the atmosphere in the room and spoke up with a small grunt, "My sister just can't keep her mouth shut, can she?"

Ino gave her teammate a nasty look, "We all have a right to know when one of our own is the target of some group so powerful the great nations are keeping them at arm's length!" Ino turned her teal eyes to Naruto and nodded confidently at him, "We all took an oath. This group of poorly coordinated and tasteless robed thugs want to get their hands on you then they have to go through all of us first!"

Lee nodded vigorously behind Ino, "What Yamanaka-san says is true! Our fire of youth shall always burn all those before us when those we care for at risk!"

Naruto's mouth fell open slightly before he looked down, shadows covering his face, "So… Then that means… That you guys know-"

"And we don't care." Neji spoke up again, his voice firm and his eyes serious. Turning his head slightly to the right, he spoke again, "None of us care about the fox spirit inside you."

Naruto frown and opened his mouth to disagree when Sakura punched him in the shoulder, "Oh no you don't! We know what that means and if you think for one second that we are messing with you, I'm going to punch you so hard you're going to forget what your own name is!"

Naruto took a step back, sweating slightly at Sakura's look that promised pain.

Hinata stepped forward and spoke lightly with a small smile on her face, "Naruto-kun… That's who you are, with or without the fox demon. To us, you're just Naruto-kun."

Naruto's blue eyes widened – completely speechless.

Shikamaru smirked at his friend's stunned look before turning back to the Hokage and speaking lazily, "I think it's safe to continue." Shikamaru took one more look at Naruto before chuckling lowly, "I don't think I've ever seen Naruto this speechless before. Best to capitalize on it while you still can."

Tsunade grumbled under her breath about rude children before smirking at the frozen blonde before her. Clearing her throat, she started up again, "Well, since you already know about the Akatsuki and their obsession with Jinchuriki, I will get straight into the details of the mission." Tsunade paused before speaking, "The following information is highly confidential and while you may already know because of the chunin exams, I still expect you to keep this information to yourself. That is an order."

Everyone in the room nodded before Tsunade continued, "In an effort to both strike back at the Akatsuki and possibly learn more information on this group, the Leaf and Sand have come together to lay a trap for the Akatsuki. We have already established that two of the Akatsuki's goals are capture Jinchuriki and disrupt the order and peace between the nations. Using this information, Sand and Leaf operatives have been spreading information of a disagreement between the Sand and Leaf. The word is that the Leaf is forming to cripple the Sand by forcing them into conditions the Sand could not agree with. To combat this, the Sand requested a meeting at a neutral location to sign an agreement that will hold the Leaf at bay until the Sand can stand on their own again."

Shikamaru nodded thoughtfully, "So you're creating a scenario in which an attack from a third party could be blamed on by either side – forcing war to start, or at the very least, for our alliance to crumble…" Shikamaru looked over at Naruto with a frown, "And you're hoping to use Naruto as extra bait." The Nara turned to the Hokage, "Isn't that too good to be true? Wouldn't they smell the trap a mile away?"

Tsunade's mouth opened to explained when Naruto finally found his words – frowning as he spoke in a disapproved tone, "You're going to use Gaara."

Tsunade nodded, "The Kazekage is already a target. I received a report this morning that Akatsuki members are already enroute to Suna to capture him. As much as I respect the Fifth Kazekage and his shinobi, they do not have the resources or shinobi to fight off members of the Akatsuki. I shouldn't have to remind this group, but one of these members is the Leaf's own Uchiha Itachi. That should give you an idea of how powerful and deadly these shinobi are."

Naruto closed his eyes, still not happy, but not finding a good argument either. He and Shikamaru got to visit the Sand village quite a few times in the past two and half years. They were making great strides in such a short amount of time, but even Naruto could tell that they need more time before they would be seen as the force they once were.

"So the peace talks and Jinchuriki are the bait. Based on your description of these shinobi, what exactly are you asking of us? Based on what you told us of the Sand, they don't that the shinobi capable of standing against this threat and the only jounin I see in this room are myself and Uchiha." Neji spoke with an expressionless face, "And as you said before, the failure of this mission would start a war. What do you see in us that I don't?"

Tsunade leaned forward, "You're all unknowns. While your talents have raised you to where you are now, much of the world knows little more about you than what your last name tell them. Together, I believe you are strong enough to keep them at bay long enough for our experienced jounin to capture or kill the Akatsuki members."

Sakura looked worried, "And if were not?"

Tsunade took a breath, "We have an escape plan in place. If the fallback call is indicated – which can only be done by the three squad leaders and Kazekage protection detail – then both the Kazekage and Naruto will be teleported out with the rest of the force fleeing the scene. Shino and Aburame will be stationed just outside the battlefield. They will not be allowed to join the fight as their primary responsibility will be to provide cover for our retreat."

Shikamaru frowned, "That's why Kanoko's not here. She's getting a separate mission. You're going to use her ability to jump space and time to get Naruto and Gaara out." Shikamaru's frown deepened as his face turned sour, "That makes her target number one. It's no secret that Kanoko knows the Fourth Hokage's secret jutsu."

Sasuke perked up at Shikamaru's words before turning to look out the window – deep in thought.

"Yes." Tsunade spoke plainly, "Nara Kanoko will likely be the target – if the Akatsuki know of her fuinjutsu and it's foolish to think they don't." Tsunade paused for a moment before continuing, "However, your sister is the only one that can protect the Kazekage from the Akatsuki. Because of her use of your clan's jutsu and the Flying Thunder god Jutsu – not to mention her ability to keep a cool head in a tough situation – this mission's success or failure falls directly onto her shoulders. Even if a retreat is called, the mission will still be considered a success, but only if the Kazekage comes out alive. Otherwise… It will be war."

Shikamaru's frown deepened, but he did not speak – feeling the task was futile. He knew his sister well enough to know she would not turn down the mission and he wasn't about to stand there and argue with his Hokage about something his sister would do regardless of his feelings about it. Shikamaru grumbled lowly, "Sometimes I feel like I'm the girl in this relationship…"

Silence once again fell over the room. Several minutes went by, each shinobi thinking over everything they heard and what it would me for them and their friends if they went through with this mission. Some of them could die. They could all die.

A war could also start and then if wasn't just them at risk – it was everything they cared about.

Tsunade watched the children in front of her carefully consider the risks and costs of this mission. She felt weight in her chest. She knew exactly what they were going through. She had been through it more times than most – having been assigned more missions, especially during war times, than 90% of shinobi in the village.

She thought about her little brother and lover. Both victims of war.

Shaking her head, Tsunade looked to the group – unable to give them any more time to think it over. "I understand this is not an easy decision and as I said before, I and everyone else will understand if you cannot, but I need to know now. Will you accept this mission, understanding all that it entails?"

Naruto looked up at the Hokage. He paused to look into her eyes. Even if he didn't know her past, he could tell, just by the look in her eyes, that she was terrified for them. Naruto took a moment to wonder how she did it – send people out, people she knew and cared about, knowing they may never come back – likely wouldn't come back.

Naruto turned his head to look behind him. His deep blue eyes moved around the room.

Shikamaru was next to his own team, each of them looking at each other with determination – knowing that no matter what, each of them would have each other's back.

Lee was standing close to Tenten. Tenten seemed to be the most nervous of the bunch, but was quickly calmed down by the wide smile of her teammate, Lee.

Neji seemed completely unfazed, as did Sasuke.

Naruto rolled his eyes at the pair before moving his eyes to Sasuke's teammates. Hinata looked surprisingly calm and determined. He really didn't know much about the girl, other than the fact that she gets red and faints a lot, but he remembers how she fought alongside Sasuke in the Chunin Exams. She was definitely a force to be reckoned with.

Kiba seemed as confident as ever, but Naruto had known him long enough to tell that the dog-like nin was really worried. Naruto knew that Kiba wasn't worried about himself, but terrified for his teammates. Kiba has always been a solid kind of friend. Once you're one of his pack, there ain't no going back.

Finally, Naruto's eyes rested on his own teammate and longtime crush: Sakura.

Sakura was staring at the door leading out of the Hokage's office – looking lost in thought. Naruto followed her gaze and knew exactly what Sakura was thinking.

Where was Kanoko?

Where was their teammate?

Naruto closed his eyes. It's not like he felt like he couldn't do this mission without her, it's just… He felt like he shouldn't make this decision without her. Kanoko was his teammate… his friend… his family.

He knew that, despite her rough exterior, she cared about her teammates, even Kakashi-sensei, more than words could explain. Naruto exhaled deeply, his eyes moving to look out the window, "I wonder what she's thinking about all this…"

.

.

---

.

"What?!" Kanoko shouted at her father, making the elder sigh dramatically. Kanoko felt her blood start to boil as her teeth gritted, "You cannot be serious."

Shikaku sighed again as he leaned back on his desk, "Unfortunately, that's what Konoha's greatest minds came up with."

Kanoko crossed her arms and mumbled under her breath, "…I was working with a lot less when my idiot brother was Hokage and even then, we didn't make stupid plans like this."

Shikaku raised an eyebrow, "Huh? I didn't catch that."

Kanoko gave him a bland look, "I said, what special kind of idiot thinks throwing a bunch of teenagers at the problem is going to make it all better?"

Shikaku sighed, "Don't you think you're being a little harsh?" Shikaku paused to give Kanoko a knowing look, "After all, you're the one who pushed Jiraiya to convince us all this was our only option."

Kanoko scoffed, "First, that's not what happened and second, I certainly wouldn't have suggested a group of chunin with a couple token jounin take on a group of S-ranked criminals!"

Shikaku raised an eyebrow, "Oh? And what would have been your suggestion?"

Kanoko gave her father an annoyed look, but fell silent.

Shikaku shook his head, "Kanoko." Shikaku paused to look his daughter in the eye, "You need to tell me what this is about. I've never seen you resist a mission like this."

Kanoko crossed her arms, "These are not random shinobi were talking about here, this is the Akatsuki: Dangerous warriors that know no remorse or mercy." Kanoko sighed, "Two of these shinobi were able to destroy the Waterfall Village and extract its tailed beast. In another case, a single shinobi from the group obliterated a town to strike war between nations. And now you are asking children to fight these beasts in the hope that more information can be extracted – and don't try to tell me that this is a true attempt to aid the Sand! Any idiot with two brain cells could see that the Kazekage was a target a long time ago – and I expect better from you!"

Shikaku watched his daughter start to pant lightly from her rage. His frown deepened with worry. Shikaku had seen his youngest mad before – both of his children took after their mother more than they admitted – but this was… not normal.

Sighing heavily, Shikaku softened his face and spoke calmly, "Noko-chan…"

Kanoko stood up suddenly from the chair she was sitting in with her fist tight, "No! This is not what this village was founded on! The intention was not to use our own children as pawns in war! They should be what we fight for! Not the other way around!"

Shikaku opened his mouth, taken aback by his daughter's yelling. She's never yelled directly at him before. She has gotten cold and distant or expressed her disappointment in creative ways, but Shikaku couldn't remember a single time his daughter had ever yelled at him or his wife.

Kanoko felt her jaw tighten and her whole body still in rage, "How dare you all sit within the safety of Konoha's walls as your own blood fights a battle you started yourselves! I- the Second Hokage was on the front line, with his pupils, when he sacrificed his own life in order to protect that which is sacred to the Leaf – the principle the village was founded on – protecting those that would come after him! The future of the village!"

Shikaku's eyes went wide at the accusation that he would ever put himself above his children – the only two beings in the world he would do anything for.

"Kanoko!"

Kanoko's eyes turned a deep red as they narrowed, "Those children are the best this village has to offer and I'm not going to let any of you allow them to die, just so you don't have to get your own hands dirty."

Shikaku choked on his own words. He felt like he was stabbed in the gut – his eyes showing the shock and hurt he felt from his daughter's cold words.

Shikaku quickly shook off some of the shock to reach out to grab Kanoko as she started on her way towards the door, only to clasp air as she teleported out of his office. Shikaku stared blankly at the space his daughter once stood – his thoughts traveling at a thousand miles per hour.

.

Wondering just what happened…

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---

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"So?"

Gaara slowly lifted his eyes to look around the dank room. He folded the letter on the desk in front of him and slowly moved to stand – his expressionless eyes giving nothing away. After another pause, the young Kazekage spoke to the people in his office, "Akatsuki members are enroute to Suna. The Leaf has proposed putting their plan into action."

Kankuro stilled, his stomach filling with dread and worry for his little brother. Looking around the room, he was slightly taken aback. Most, if not all, the elders in the room looked just as worried as him. Kankuro knew that for some of them, it was just worry over losing another Kazekage and the village's strongest shinobi, but he could see in some of their eyes the genuine concern they had for Gaara.

Temari was the first to speak, her voice firm and strong, "What are our options?" Temari stood tall as she addressed the bulk of the village leaders, "Do we have the resources to defend Suna ourselves?"

Kankuro bit the inside of his cheek. That's his sister for sure, never one to hold her punches.

An elderly woman scoffed, "Accept help from that old hag? Ha! You're an idiot if you think the Leaf's going to send anyone worth a damn!"

A couple other shinobi in the room nodded in blind agreement making Kankuro and Temari sneer at them. Seeing their faces, their former sensei, Baki, intervened, "The Leaf has done a lot to improve relations between our countries, Chiyo. With the amount of time and resources they have pooled into us, it seems unlikely that they would just leave us out to hang now."

"Or maybe that's what they want us to think." Another elder pointed out, getting only a couple nods this time.

A senior jounin sighed heavily, "Doesn't this conversation feel familiar to anyone? Like the one we had right before we nearly got our Daimyo killed?"

Temari couldn't help smirking at the older man's quip. Houki Takeshi was a rather reserved individual, but could assess a situation in seconds before pointing out all the flaws – vocally and without any sugar coating.

Another scoff was heard from across the room, "I don't want to hear anything from a Houki when it comes to how we deal with the Leaf."

Takeshi simply rolled his eyes and ignored the younger man.

Chiyo wasn't as kind. "Shut your mouth runt! The Houki Clan may originally be from Leaf, but have served the Sand since before your father was born! Takeshi especially has proven his loyalty to the Sand several times over! So don't you dare speak as if you know anything."

The younger jounin opened his mouth in shock before fidgeting in shame.

Temari's smirk grew, loving every second of the verbal beat down, before looking back towards her brother's desk. Temari's face fell as she blinked.

"Where's Gaara?"

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Closing his eyes, Gaara took in a deep and long breath, taking in the hot wind blowing through his red hair. He was standing out on the roof of the Kazekage's tower, overlooking the village he grew up in.

"So… What do you think?"

Gaara slowly opened his teal eyes to take a short look at the person next to him.

Kankuro sighed at his brother's quiet nature. Turning around so he could lean on the railing with his arms crossed, Kankuro twisted his head to face his little brother, "Come on Gaara! I know you've got something going on in that head of yours! This is too quiet, even for you."

Gaara couldn't help but smirk slightly at his brother's pout and whining. Looking out over the buildings of Suna, Gaara slowly spoke in a deep voice, "These shinobi… they are coming for me."

Kankuro opened his mouth to assure his brother that he and Temari weren't going to let anything happen to him, but stopped when Gaara raised his hand.

Gaara nodded to Kankuro's unspoken words before continuing, "I am not afraid for myself."

Kankuro frowned, "Well… If you're afraid for the rest of us, don't be. We know the risks and we understand what we're up against." Kankuro paused to find the right words, knowing his brother tends to take things literally, "I don't know if you understand how much of impact you've had on all of us. Like Houki-san said, we almost got out Daimyo killed three years ago! We're lucky he hasn't left Suna to starve and that's all because of you!"

Gaara lifted an eyebrow at his brother before shaking his head, ready to argue when another voice interrupted him from behind.

"Kankuro's right!" Temari smirked, "For once."

Kankuro huffed at his older sister, giving her an annoyed look, "Pff! I'm right a lot!"

Temari rolled her eyes, "Whatever." The blonde ignored her brother as she walked on the other side of her youngest brother. Giving him a pointed look, she spoke clearly, "This village relays on you. Not just because you're the strongest, or even that you're the Kazekage, but for what you represent and everything you've done for them." Temari turned her head to look at the buildings below, "Think about all the student's you've trained, all the missions you've gone on that've helped gain our Daimyo's approval back, and all the little things you've done around the village to help everyone."

Temari turned back to her red headed brother and smiled confidently at him, "They adore you Gaara, and they would do anything to keep you safe. The meeting you just fled from proves it. They aren't arguing over whether they should help you or not, but how we are going to keep our Kazekage safe and sound."

Gaara frowned at his sister's words.

Temari let out a frustrating sigh and looked over to Kankuro. Kankuro shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. The blonde snorted back at him and gave him an "I have to do everything myself" look before catching Gaara's attention again.

"What's this really about Gaara?" Temari crossed her arms and took a hard stance, "I've seen the plan the Leaf proposed a few weeks ago. It's not perfect, but I think we have a real chance of coming out winners in it."

Gaara looked out at the horizon, not speaking a word for several moments. Closing his eyes again, Gaara spoke, "Nothing."

"Just a bad feeling…" Gaara thought as he turned around to head back in to talk to his council.

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Two Days Later

"Ugggh… I thought I'd never have to see this dessert again! This just sucks!"

Kanoko's eye twitched slight before speaking loudly over her shoulder, "Quiet Naruto. This is not a pleasure trip. We are here to do a job." Kanoko lifted an eyebrow at the blonde as he drug his feet in the sand, "And pick up the pace. We will not be late."

Naruto's face scrunched up before giving Kanoko a dirty look after she turned back around. Turning to his right, he mumbled in a grumpy tone, "Someone forgot the remove the stick out of her butt this morning! And the last two mornings for that matter!"

Shikamaru gave Naruto a pointed look as he shoved him lightly, "Hey. That's my sister."

Naruto snorted, "Whatever."

Sakura sighed heavily behind the two before whispering to Ino, "Even Naruto and Shikamaru are in a bad mood… Can't say I really blame them… We've been on the move for two days straight in this heat." Sakura frowned as she looked over to Kanoko's back, "And Kanoko's been acting strange…"

Ino frowned, but nodded, "I can't imagine this is easy on her though… This whole mission rests in her hands." Ino wrapped her arms around her torso, "Anything could happen. This time tomorrow, we could all be…"

Sakura's eyes went wide, "Ino! Don't think like that! We're going to be just fine, just you watch!" Sakura nodded confidently with a wide smile on her face before looking over to Kanoko, "And Kanoko's the toughest of us! And if things are proving too much for her, she needs to know that we have her back – 110%!"

Ino nodded slowly, but the worried look did not fall from her face.

Sakura frowned at her friend, "What's wrong Ino? You were in such high spirits when we left."

Ino shrugged before looking forward towards Kanoko and Neji who were walking side by side, "Something feels wrong… I don't know how to explain it." Ino chewed on her lip for a moment before looking around at the group and whispering to Sakura, "Neji and Kanoko have barely spoken a word to each other. Don't you find that extremely odd? Ever since Naruto and Shikamaru have come home, it's like Kanoko and Neji can't stand to even be in the same room with one another."

Sakura frowned and placed a finger on her chin, "Now that you mention it… I never see Neji anymore. Normally he comes and picks Kanoko up after we train to go do whatever they do, but he hasn't done that in a while…"

"Keep your eyes sharp!" Kanoko called out to the group from ahead, interrupting the two kunoichi, "We could be attacked by Sand sympathizers at any moment."

Chouji frowned next to Shikamaru and spoke quiet, "Is that really a possibility?" Chouji's frown deepened with a sad look, "I understand that it's a part of the plan, but isn't this farce going a little too far?"

Shikamaru's lips set into a firm line and spoke quietly back, "It had to be believable or things will go from bad to worse. We're already walking a fine line. Things can't afford to get worse from here." Shikamaru felt for his friend, he didn't like this anymore than Chouji. First off, he wasn't fond of the actual plan.

To set the scene, Neji was assigned the role as negotiator – as he was the only one in the group officially trained in the art. After him, Kanoko was assigned as his personal bodyguard and was to be with him at all times. The point of this was to keep Kanoko in close proximity to the Kazekage, who Neji would be negotiating with on behalf of Konoha.

To escort these two to the previously agreed on half way point for negotiations, was group A.

Group A consisted of himself, Naruto, Ino, Sakura, Chouji, Tenten, Lee, and Shizune. He and his teammates were assigned to the inner perimeter along with Neji. They, alongside Temari and Kankuro on Suna's side, were there to keep any threats that made it through the outer perimeter away from Gaara and Kanoko. All of them were distance fighters and while Shikamaru's team's skills were unique to trapping and interrogating, they were still flexible enough to fill a protection role as well.

Group B was a few clicks behind Group A. Group B, while the "negotiations" were occurring, would stay hidden on the outskirts of the rendezvous point. Group B consisted of Hinata, Kiba, and Sasuke. Having the best sensory prowess of their group – besides Kanoko's own sensing abilities – they were in the best position to sound the alarm once the Akatsuki closed in. Once the alarm goes off, Group B and the rest of Group A – Naruto, Tenten, and Lee – would join the rest of Suna's hidden forces and form an outer ring around the rest of them.

This large outer ring will be responsible for helping Group C – made up of Kakashi and Gai – trap or kill the Akatsuki members. Trap being the preferred goal.

Once the battle began, Sakura and Shizune would hang back and only step into the battlefield to aid fallen shinobi off the field or quickly heal impeding injuries so they may continue the fight.

Shino and Torune would also be present, but are forbidden from entering the fight. Their sole job was to create an opening for Konoha's and Suna's forces to escape if the retreat call sounds.

And then there was their "last defense".

This was the part of the plan that worried Shikamaru the most. If an Akatsuki member breaks through the outer perimeter and the inner perimeter, than Kanoko and the Kazekage are to defend their position and push the Akatsuki member back to the outer ring. If they are unable to do so, Kanoko is then left with the decision to sound the retreat and teleport the Kazekage back to Suna or continue the fight in the hopes that they will have enough manpower to overcome the situation.

Only the Kazekage and Kanoko are allowed to sound the retreat. If the Kazekage calls the retreat, it means that Kanoko has been taken out and the Kazekage is now vulnerable.

As if the whole plan wasn't enough of a headache, when Shikamaru asked the Hokage what they would do if the Akatsuki started to target Naruto, Tsunade had no answer – at least not a very good one in his opinion. Shikamaru knows the major point to his and Naruto's training over the last couple years was to make him ready to face the Akatsuki, but that didn't sit well with Shikamaru. Naruto was important to him. He didn't want his friend to face those kinds of odds on his own and Shikamaru liked to make plans, review those plans, and solidify those plans.

And with the madness of everything else going on in this situation, it would only make planning for the worst harder.

The whole situation left Shikamaru with the worst headache he has ever had and as a result, has made him unpleasant to be around.

Shikamaru looked up towards his sister, watching her long dark hair swish back and forth. Kanoko had been acting strange the last few days too… When he first came home after the two and a half year long trip, he would be lying if he said he wasn't a little jealous of the relationship Kanoko and his father had. He would often find the two of them playing shogi, training in the back, working with the deer, or simply debating several topics about the world. Shikamaru never saw his father as neglectful, but watching him spend so much time with Kanoko over himself…

But the last two days… Kanoko hasn't even looked his way. At the dinner table the two would be silent. Maybe Kaa-san would get a word or two out of them, but both acted like the other wasn't there. The weirdest part, Shikamaru didn't sense any hostility between the two. His father would simply look at Kanoko from across the room every once and awhile, acting like he wanted to say something, but finding himself lost for words and walking away.

Kanoko, now that he actually thought about it, was probably the most hostile of the two – if you could call it that. She wasn't mean or rude, but she acted as if he wasn't there. Tou-san didn't call out to her, so she had yet to ignore him, but Kanoko would start up a conversation with anyone in the house that wasn't their father. She went out to feed the deer on her own, ignorant to their father right behind her doing the same. She waited until he left his office to grab any scrolls or books. And she either asked Shikamaru to train with her or went out to find another of their friends to train with her.

Shikamaru hadn't quite gotten up the courage to ask what was going on either.

"We'll rest here for the night." Kanoko told the group, pulling Shikamaru from his thoughts. Looking up, Shikamaru watched everyone sigh in relief before spreading out to set up camp. They were still in the desert, which made setting up camp and feeling any sort of security difficult to put it mildly. It wasn't the worst though. The area around them was full of hills and rocks, kind of like it was the bottom of a large lake a long time ago, so they had some privacy. The area wasn't all that sandy either. Just dry earth mostly with some vicious looking weeds.

Shikamaru saw Kanoko and Sasuke take off into the abyss of sand to make sure there were no threats in the area while Neji took off with Lee in the opposite direction. Turning around, Shikamaru called out to Kiba, Naruto and Chouji, "Hey! The girls and I will set up camp while you guys go find us food, if you can." Shikamaru added that last part after a thought, thinking it would be enough to challenge their egos and get them moving.

Kiba and Chouji turned around and looked ready to accept when Naruto gave his friend a nasty look, "Uh-un! Why do you get your lazy ass out there and find your own food!?"

From behind, Shikamaru heard Ino giggle at Shikamaru's woes. Sighing tiredly, Shikamaru grumbled quietly, "Damn Naruto…"

Thankfully Sakura also had a vested interest in kicking Naruto out and raised her fist in the air threateningly, "Listen to Shikamaru, Naruto! You're the only one here not a chunin, so you're the low man on the totem pole!"

Naruto opened his mouth to argue that he was still the strongest one here when Sakura started to growl, "Don't think I've forgotten about you spilling ice cream all over me embarrassing me in front of everyone, including the Hokage!"

Naruto whined, "Come on Sakura-chan! That was ages ago!"

Stomach growling and growing annoyed by the argument back and forth, Kiba turned to Chouji and tilted his head. Chouji laughed lightly and nodded.

Just as Naruto was about to make another good point – in his opinion – he felt his body be lifted off the ground, "Wow!" Looking on back and forth, the blonde instantly recognized his captors, "Hey! Wait a minute! Guys! Come on!"

Kiba just snorted, "Just be quiet and roll with it Naruto. I'm too hot and sweaty to care anymore."

Chouji just nodded, "And I heard that there are some good boar out here, so I'm excited!"

The girls laughed with each other at the scene before turning around and getting the camping supplies from their bags. Shikamaru sighed before walking around to join them in setting up. Locking eyes with a certain pinkette, Shikamaru grumbled internally when he figured their reasons for privacy from the other guys was one in the same.

Both of them turned their heads towards Hinata, but unfortunately for Shikamaru, Sakura was a second faster in getting her question out.

"Hey Hinata, question for you." Sakura posed while helping Ino place the braces for the tents up.

Hinata looked up from her bag with a curious face, "Yes Sakura-chan?"

"I haven't seen Neji around lately. Are he and Kanoko fighting about something?" Sakura asked rather bluntly.

Ino looked over, equally as interested while Tenten and Shizune looked slightly uncomfortable – both for different reasons.

Turning a little shy, Hinata quietly spoke, "Well.. uhh…"

Looking to save her friend, Tenten sighed, "Neji's angry at Kanoko that she won't do anything to help the clan situation and, from what I can tell, Kanoko's just annoyed with Neji's insistence on the topic. They got into a pretty bad brawl over it a few weeks ago."

Shikamaru's head whipped around from what he was doing, "Wait, hold up. What clan situation?"

Ino turned to her teammate to explain, "I'm surprised Uncle Shikaku hasn't told you about it. The main and branch families of all the clans in Konoha are at odds. In some clans, like the Hyuuga, it's turning into domestic disputes. Even the smaller clans are starting to see minor disturbances between clan members."

Shikamaru let that piece of information set in before he asked follow up questions, "Not great, but not surprising. The village is still not on hundred percent and relations between the elders and the clansmen have never been the greatest, but…" Shikamaru paused before continuing, "Even our clans are seeing it? The Nara Clan has never been that concerned with clan law and the Yamanaka Clan is even more laid back – due to the fact you all are mind readers."

Ino nodded before turning a little meek, "Apparently, a lot of the unrest has to do with the number of female clan heirs. The elders, especially the Leaf Clans' Council aren't too keen on the idea of the Yamanaka, Hyuuga, and Nara clans being run by female clan heads."

Shikamaru just sighed in annoyance, "Really? I've been counted out already?" Shikamaru shrugged, "I mean, I'm not complaining. The whole "clan head" thing sounds like way too much work, but it would be nice to be at least considered alongside my sister every once and awhile."

Sakura gave Shikamaru a bland look, "So you say you're not complaining, right before you start complaining? Sounds logical."

Shikamaru returned Sakura's bland look, "You need to stop hanging out with my sister. There can only be one sarcastic know-it-all in the Leaf and Kanoko's not moving out anytime soon."

"Anyways!" Tenten cut in.

Shikamaru turned from Sakura to ask something else, "But what does this whole thing have to do with Kanoko, besides being female and an heir to the Nara clan?"

Hinata spoke up this time, "It's because of what she did for you…"

Shikamaru frowned, "You're talking about the Hyuuga thing."

Sakura was the one to pop up this time, "Wait, what Hyuuga thing?" Sakura's head went back and forth between Hinata and Ino, "Did Kanoko not tell me something important, again?!"

Ino shrugged, "I only know a little bit from what Tou-san told me." Ino turned to Hinata, "Only that it had to do with an arranged marriage and Kanoko forced both clans to fold on the idea."

Tenten nodded, "That's all Neji told me too. And it's also what's sparked this whole clan war - class war actually, to be technical."

Shizune spoke up for the first time, "It's not a war yet. Lady Tsunade will not let that happen."

This seemed to calm Ino, Sakura and Tenten, but Shikamaru and Hinata didn't seem comforted by the news. Speaking up, Shikamaru looked directly at Hinata, "What exactly happened?" Shikamaru was firm in his request. He had also been told the same amount of information by his father, but he never told him that it started the beginnings of a civil war. Something more must have happened…

Hinata opened her mouth to speak, but closed it quickly when she saw her teammate jump onto the rock above them – Kanoko walking a little slower behind him.

Shikamaru cursed at the poor timing, but was grateful that he at least knew more to the story than before. He honestly didn't think he would get much time to ask questions anyways. Kanoko and Sasuke had proved to be quite the efficient team since he and Naruto had returned.

Kanoko raised an eyebrow at the skeleton of a tent, "I knew you were lazy, but to think you have such an overwhelming impact on the others to be so as well… I will have to try this tactic in battle."

Shikamaru gave his sister a dry look just before he heard another voice he found equally annoying these days.

"Haha! What would that look like?! Shika-Lazy-No-Jutsu! Then you throw him into the pit of shinobi and see what happens?! Hahahaha!" Naruto bellowed out as he rounded the corner with Kiba and Chouji in tow with dinner.

"Oh yeah, you guys are just a laugh." Shikamaru retorted dryly.

Kanoko smirked at her brother humorously before her eye caught movement. Her face lost its amused look as she spoke, "Lee. Hyuuga. Anything to report?"

Neji returned Kanoko's expressionless look with one of his own, "The area is clear."

Kanoko nodded before walking down to help Ino and Sakura pull the sheet over the poles of the tent.

Shikamaru continued to fish out the supplies they would need for the night, but not before catching Hinata with a look. Pale eyes met small dark brown ones.

The mission might come first right now, but Shikamaru was going to pin down what was going on with his village and his family. After all, he promised himself that he wouldn't let his sister carry all the weight on her shoulders anymore.

Brown eyes met firm blue ones. Shikamaru sighed to himself. He knew Naruto let him have that last one, but he also knew the blonde wasn't letting him off the hook until he told him what was going on.

Shikamaru just wished he knew himself.

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"So the Sand and Leaf are meeting up in the desert to discuss their ally agreement…" A voice spoke in the dark, his deep voice echoing off the damp walls of the cave.

"Do you suppose it is a trap?" Another voice questioned, the calmest of the group.

"Ha! A trap! For us? The Akatsuki?! What a joke!"

"Shut up Deidara…" A scratchy voice replied.

"Why you-" Deidara started.

"Enough." A voice boomed, "Whether it be a trap or not, neither village will have the resources to defend against our attack. If it is a trap, it will only be their undoing."

"Oooo you sound so confident! You sure you aren't being overconfident?" A squeaky voice responded.

"Uggg! Who invited him?!" Deidara growled out.

The deep voice ignored Deidara and replied to the other, "If Sasori and Deidara prove to be inadequate, Itachi and Kisame will step in."

Itachi fell silent at the order. No doubt his little brother will be on this mission, knowing his luck.

"Yeah, sure." Kisame answered for the both of them, having gotten used to his partner's silence.

Deidara snorted at the fish/human hybrid, "Well we won't need it! Right Sasori?!"

The puppet master did not respond. Not because he was doubtful he would come out the victor, but because he didn't see a need to respond. Or a care to.

"Sasori?! Come on man! Back me up!" Deidara complained.

"Just shut up and move." Was Sasori's response as he turned to leave.

Itachi watched the two pass him before shifting his eyes forward again to the leader of the group. The room stayed silent for a moment longer. Just as the two were about to exit, the leader spoke again, "It's likely that the Leaf will be using their fuinjutsu expert to teleport the Kazekage out of there if things do not go their way."

Sasori turned his head slightly to listen further, stopping his movements towards the door.

"If she is present…"

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"…Kill her first."

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Author's Note: I'm alive!

And that's really all I have to say at the moment.

And of course, thank you for the amazing and beautiful (I'm going to get crap for that later, but...) FreelanceBum for editing my all over the place chapter! And so incredibly quickly too! Just the bestest-estest beta evvvvver! (Going to get crap for that too)

And thank you very much to everyone who hasn't given up on me! I hope to deliver more goodness soon!