[Team Iya is and OC Team led by OC Jounin Iya.]

EmptyTownPart Two

Naruto's teams left the strange town and headed to a less than familiar hidden village. Kusagakure had no conflict with Konohagakure so there was no need to be secretive about their mission. The ambassadors that met with them easily turned over all their intelligence but something didn't sit well with Naruto.

Amongst the group Sasuke had the most familiarity with Kusagakure. Karin was from this hidden village. However all that knowledge was based on what the village was like years ago. Many things had since changed. Sasuke didn't have any leeway with the leadership to him this village was just like any other when it came to his status. Nothing really mattered as they passed through the village headed towards their destination.

After a few hours trudging through thick bamboo forests and mushrooms the team got word about what was happening back home. It would take a lot to go through all the rivers and ravines in the territory so if they were to return to the village they would have wasted precious traveling time.

The Blood Prison was a must go for them to research given this new information about a criminal named Kota. So Kakashi had to consider returning to the village with his group while leaving Naruto's group to continue on to the prison and deeper into the forest.

Kakashi halted the teams and had them gather for the latest correspondence from Konohagakure. It seemed as if being outside of the village paid off for they were able to draw out the enemy from within their boarders.

"Things at home have escalated. We should try to return as soon as possible," Kakashi said to the team.

"But this town," Kiba complained, "something smells rotten. Not literally but I don't like it."

"I don't like this either," Yamato spoke up," What news from home Senpai?"

"Shinobi were attacked by a man as he tried to leave the village. Our Shinobi detained him however he ended his life before giving any information voluntarily," Kakashi said.

"So what's that have to do with our mission here," Kiba asked.

"Sakura took care of a girl who was attacked by this man, Kota," Genma said.

"Well anyhow he did seem to know what was going on with the nightmares," Kakashi continued, "Intelligence found that he mentioned the women by name before he had any clue he was being watched. He was seen bragging about how it was too late for them to some outside party."

Naruto spoke up asking, "Did he attack with the same jutsu affecting the women?"

"When our guys did catch up to him he used some kind of illusion jutsu on the guard to try to escape. They have no evidence that jutsu is related to the same one used on the women."

"But they caught him so the guard could help us out with defeating this jutsu right," Naruto asked.

"Not exactly the guard was caught in a jutsu but it is not exactly like the one hurting the women. No one is ready to call it the same jutsu. The only reason he was brought to our attention was because he made an error when he hit the woman, um Kohada I believe was her name," Kakashi said.

"And they caught him there in the village," Sasuke asked.

"Must be an idiot we're dealing with," Kiba said.

"Yes he made a mistake and was caught off guard. We know he isn't the brightest but he isn't working alone," Kakashi continued.

"What about the interrogations," Sai interrupted, "were they able to gather anything from his mind?"

"Whatever ended his life also erased his memories. He's a blank slate," Kakashi said.

"So we shouldn't underestimate the enemy," Yamato added.

"They shouldn't underestimate us," Sasuke said.

"Don't be showing off and all, Sasuke teme," Naruto said.

"Hn," Sasuke got up from the ground. Inwardly Naruto was beaming that his friend would even consider himself a part of Konoha again. No matter how much camaraderie happened it always felt good to have his friend back in the village given their past. He wished the council, clan heads and Gokage could see Sasuke the way he did. But wasn't so naïve to believe they would ever change their ways anymore. They did consider what he did in the war and that was more than Naruto could ask for.

"There's something else," Kakashi spoke up; "we had a mission. Naruto, Sai and Yamato were there. Sakura, Ino, Izumo and Naruto also were with us. Naruto you should remember it well."

"That creepy body recovery mission," Naruto said.

"Yes that," Kakashi said continuing, "Yamato we should have paid more attention to your suspicion then."

"About Tori," Yamato asked.

"Yes," Kakashi answered, "From now on our mission is being restructured. The enemy obviously wants us to focus on this town distracting us from what it is they are up to. Tsunade is taking care of things back at the village. I'm suggesting that we regroup and set focus on Tori whom she believes is using a body clone technique to blend in around town. Obviously Kota did not share this ability as he attempted to use a basic haircut to fool us."

"How did she manage to fool so many for this long," Naruto asked. It was a little puzzling that they caught Kota so easily. It was also strange that he happened to be connected to the Nightmare Jutsu case at all.

"More important the real Tori may be anywhere out there," Sasuke said.

"What about the Team Iya," Sai asked. That team went missing after working on a mission to recover missing Shinobi bodies from Konohagakure hospital morgue. Team Iya has been classified missing ever since Tori went with Sai's group to seal recovered bodies.

"At the time our mission did not involve Team Iya," Kakashi spoke up.

"We should be vigilant about members of that team who might have betrayed Konoha," Naruto said.

"Yes," Sasuke agreed.

Sasuke was disgusted that someone would try to use Orochimaru's research. Kabuto was the last person he encountered who tried to become Orochimaru. He had to wonder how many more were out there with the means to follow in the Sanin's footsteps. At the same time he had to think like that kind of person to find them.

If it were Sasuke he would likely target Juugo who's clan was key to the curse mark jutsu's origins. The enemy targeted Kusagakure where Karin is from. They targeted Konohagakure where he is from. Now the enemy may have dealings with Kirigakure where Suigetsu is from and obviously Otogakure where many Orochimaru bases were left to rot away.

"Sasuke all the information-

"Points in Orochimaru's direction you were going to say," Sasuke cut off.

"I know that you know. I was just pointing out that it might be a good idea if Miyako was kept away from his hideouts," Naruto said.

"His hideouts you say," Sasuke asked staring at his friend for a moment before adding, "You know me better than that."

"If it isn't you trampling over those places then –

"Let me take care of it Naruto. Just stay out of it. This isn't any of your concern," Sasuke said.

"There is a lot that is my concern lately," Naruto said.

"We'll see about that," Sasuke said.

The twosome moved a bit quicker to catch back up to the group but there was a lot that remained unsaid. The terrain was rough and the day was dragging on for everyone involved.