The gates of Hidden Leaf opened slowly. A morning mist rested across the ground. Clouds swept across the sky, colored red in the morning light.

A shambling figure, squat, clad in a black cloak with red clouds embroidered on the edge, approached the edge of the village. His appearance was uncertain; a bandana wrapped around his mouth.

Tsunade stood near the gate, her arms folded. She studied the approaching figure silently. "I was told Akatsuki worked in partners."

"We do. My partner was Orochimaru. Currently I don't have one." The figure glanced upward, his dull brown eyes narrowed. "That aside, both you and the Kazekage hiring me is completely unexpected. What's the reason?"

"It's as a consequence of the type and kind of mission. You probably received some explanation earlier, Sasori."

"Putting that aside, there'll be fallout from this. Probably the entire society of Kage is going to revile you."

"We don't have a choice. If that Tailed Beast gets into the wrong hands, disapproval is going to be the least of our worries." Tsunade glanced over her shoulder. Her hand rested against her hip. "I was hoping they'd be awake by now."

Sasori shuffled forward. "Agreed. Punctuality is a grand virtue."

"Good morning." Tayuya rubbed her temples as she ran forward, finally coming to a halt near the gateway. "Sorry about the delay, Sasori-san. We made pretty merry last night."

"I see that." Sasori glanced toward the gateway. "Where are the other two?"

"Four." Tayuya raised her fingers.

Sasori made a noise deep in his throat. "Tsunade, I was under the impression that Leaf ninja traveled in threes."

"Well, that's the normal practice. Of course, having an expert at medical ninjutsu is now my practice, so there are four in the newer groups. Team Seven is quite unusual." Tsunade sighed heavily. "Well, they should be here soon."

Tayuya nodded. "Did you already receive the mission briefing?" she asked, glancing at Sasori.

"At least two enemies, one of which I would hypothesize to be Nara Shikamōto, and the other of which is in possession of a blade like Kūkyo's. Uncertain numbers of enemies with unknown powers." Sasori glanced toward Tsunade. "This could be very well a suicide mission." He shuffled to a halt outside the gates.

"I have a duty, do I not?" Tsunade questioned. "To maintain the current order. From what I had understood, I would think you understood the value in preservation."

Sasori remained silent for a long moment. At last, he said, "You think too highly of me. I left because art that lasts can't be made in a cage." He paused. "Regardless, Leader accepted your mission, and so I must do my best." He glanced briefly toward Tayuya. "Do you have information regarding your own abilities? My odds are best if I have information on your capabilities."

"Right. Of course, I'm a genjutsu expert, but I can't do elemental techniques with even a little bit of success. Naruto's a jinchūriki, but the crazy break everything type as opposed to the Third Mizukage type." Tayuya paused. Should I mention Flying Thunder God Technique? She glanced toward Sasori, studying the bandana-covered face. No. He'd use it without worry about Naruto's state. "Then there's Sasuke. Sasuke's a member of the Uchiha clan, so she's a genius at ninjutsu. Chances are she's learned a lot of utility powers that the rest of us haven't. Then, Kōju's both a medic and a sword saint, so healing and combat is covered. I don't know what Soyokaze does."

A blur of white motion kicked up across the ground. Naruto over one shoulder, Soyokaze arrived.

"Ah. A member of the Sō Clan." Sasori inclined his head. "Well, I cannot fault you on your skill at variety, Tsunade." He leaned forward after a moment.

Tsunade frowned. "To be clear, I neither like nor trust you, but you have the best chance at finishing this."

"And as I said before, you paid the money properly. I may not agree with you, but I'm not one to renege." Sasori studied Naruto's face briefly. His eyebrows furrowed. "He is quite familiar, isn't he?"

Tsunade's expression grew stern. "That is no business of yours."

"No. I suppose it is not." Sasori shuffled toward the gates.

Sasuke approached from the north. Her hand grasped the scroll at her side. "When are we moving out?"

Kōju raised her voice, appearing from the south. "Now. They've stopped. I think it's in Hidden Sand for sure now."

Sasori frowned. "In Hidden Sand. Interesting. Do you have a communication from the Kazekage?"

"Not yet. But that's where my chakra is, I think. I feel it there, at least." Kōju hurried along the road.

"From here it's three days' journey to Hidden Sand. I'll address our plan on the route there." Sasori shuffled forward. "My first area of control is over you all. If you cause any actions outside my control I will respond appropriately." He paused. "Do respect my authority, and it will put together the solution."

Naruto looked up. His eyes widened. "Hey! What are you doing, carrying me off like that?"

Sasori stared quietly at Naruto.

"Shut up. It's just fine this way," Sasuke replied.

Soyokaze remained calm. Their blue eyes studied the form around them in the space.

"This is the team I have been entrusted with?" Sasori questioned, glancing toward Tayuya.

Tayuya shrugged. "What can I say? They're pretty good teammates when they don't fuck each other in the ass." She glanced toward the gateway. "Anyway, there's something that should work here. They're a good enough team for that purpose."

"Anyway, Sasori-san, we should get going soon." Kōju smiled. "It's no matter, overall, but you should realize the danger of being too slow."

"Yeah. It's clear that we have no point staying around," Tayuya agreed.

The group set off. Tsunade watched from the edge of the village until the group disappeared into tiny blobs on the horizon. She sighed heavily. Fare you well.

Journey

The mountain's top disappeared into the black clouds over the mountain. A vast desert, struck by red moonlight, glimmered in the high heavens.

The pair in white cloaks ascended the mountain. Near the top Mizuki finally collapsed, wiping sweat off his brow.

Shikamōto raised an eyebrow. "What on earth is the matter this time?"

"I'm out of energy. This regeneration thing can't be maintained so easily."

Shikamōto scowled. "Fine. I'll lug your ass up the mountain too, though I really don't want to. You're pretty heavy."

"You are both late." A pony-tailed man leaned against the rock. His black eyes narrowed as he studied the pair. A silver cloak covered his form.

"Not my fault." Shikamōto jerked a thumb over her shoulder. "This guy kept making an attempt to run for it."

Gaara stared upward at the figure with cold eyes, red rimming the edges of his face.

Shishi raised an eyebrow. "I thought you'd tire without sleep."

"I'm used to it." Gaara let his hand fall limply to his side.

"I see." Shishi gestured to Shikamōto. "Undo his bindings."

"Eh?" Shikamōto's eyes widened. "Sir, we don't have the power to handle a released Tailed Beast."

"Then wasting your chakra certainly cannot help." Shishi paused. "Besides, we need to prepare him for sacrifice."

Shikamōto scowled. "It's your funeral," she stated finally. "I don't even know who you are, but if your power isn't up to par, he'll definitely escape." Her fingers laced together rapidly. "But Leader trusts you, so."

The shadowy threads crossing Gaara's chest rapidly dissipated. Gaara extended his hand. Sand gathered around the edge of the mountain pass.

Shishi glanced toward Gaara briefly. "Do you feel no animosity toward us?" he questioned, one eyebrow rising.

Gaara didn't answer. He stepped onto the sand, his arms crossing.

Mizuki gasped. He drew out his sword rapidly.

"He still has that much energy left? Shit!" Shikamōto shouted. She cast her gaze toward Shishi, who hadn't moved. Her expression darkened. I shouldn't have trusted him. I have to recapture the kid, now. Before Mizuki cuts him in half. Shadowy threads laced through the air. Have to—

Gaara's body vanished.

Shikamōto's eyes widened. She turned her head to one side. If it'd just been speed, I'd have seen him move. Did he go straight down the mountain?

Mizuki's hand grasped empty air. His eyes widened.

"As you can see, it won't be a problem." Shishi remained leaning against the wall.

Gaara stood beside the mountain, his eyes wide with shock. His arms remained folded across his chest. What just happened to me?

"I." Shikamōto's eyes widened. She stared in blank shock at Shishi. "I'd heard that the top rankers were powerful, but this is way beyond anything I ever imagined. What the hell did you just do?"

Mizuki reached upward. He grasped his sword instinctively, his eyes wide with shock.

Shishi smiled. He remained silent.

"Never mind. On second thought, I don't want to know." Shikamōto exhaled. "A skill that scary. I think I'd prefer not knowing how it works."

"Moving on from that particular issue, then." Shishi spread his arms wide. "We were able to contact only two partnerships to assist you. For now, therefore, the ritual is estimated at taking eight days."

"Seriously?!" Shikamōto groaned loudly. "Where the hell is everybody?"

"Your leaders are unavoidably occupied with internal affairs." Shishi paused. "I put out a call to a certain ally, but whether he arrives at all is not a certainty, and he cannot be used to accelerate the process. Your partnership and the second partnership will conduct defense of the jinchūriki while extraction occurs."

"The faster this goes the better, right?!" Shikamōto demanded.

"Beyond two people, the speed of this ritual can't be increased effectively. You might shave a day by using both of you, but Leaf's team will arrive here in three days at most. Probably less." Shishi paused. "Bearing that in mind, it's advisable to have a defensive team already lined up in case of troubles."

Shikamōto groaned loudly. "Okay. I get your point."

Mizuki stared into the darkness beyond the mountain. Finally, he spoke. "You're the same as me, right?"

"Yes." Shishi glanced downward briefly. He brushed down his robes. "At one time, I certainly possessed the powers of a shinigami."

Mizuki fell silent. He looked downward at the sword.

Shishi sighed. "I'm sorry. Normally I'm not this talkative." He gestured up the mountain. "The entrance to the sealing chamber is there. Please take your time inside."

The pair ascended the mountain. Shishi escorted Gaara behind, one hand placed on the silvered sword at his side. Gaara's expression bore a mixture of horror and silence.

A pair of bronzed gates glimmered on the side of the mountain. Glimmering images of Tailed Beasts twined around the doorway. At the height of the door a tall tree, glimmering in black, shone brightly over the gates. Above the tree the sun glowed brightly, surrounded by a black vortex.

"What the hell is this place, anyhow?" Mizuki muttered.

"It is the former residence of Hakubo. It seems they created this ritual as a desperate final measure in their warring against Akatsuki." Shishi looked upward at the doorway with something resembling reverence. "Now it is nothing, but a tool to your own goals."

The door swung open slowly. Bright light descended from the high ceiling, a single point of light high above descending on the circular room.

Shishi sat down by the door. "They arrive by the end of moonlight, I suspect. I'll wait to greet them." He glanced at Gaara. "Do you intend to do anything stupid?"

Gaara glanced down at his hands. For now isn't the time. I have to catch him off guard.